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Wolfson, C. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Wolfson, C. J..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2012

Design and Ground Calibration of the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) Instrument on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)

The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) investigation will study the solar interior using helioseismic techniques as well as the magnetic field near the solar surface. The HMI instrument is part of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) that was launched on 11 February 2010. The instrument is designed to measure the Doppler shift, intensity, and vector magnetic field at the solar photosphere using the 6173 Fe I absorption line. The instrument consists of a front-window filter, a telescope, a set of wave plates for polarimetry, an image-stabilization system, a blocking filter, a five-stage Lyot filter with one tunable element, two wide-field tunable Michelson interferometers, a pair of 4096(exo 2) pixel cameras with independent shutters, and associated electronics. Each camera takes a full-disk image roughly every 3.75 seconds giving an overall cadence of 45 seconds for the Doppler, intensity, and line-of-sight magnetic-field measurements and a slower cadence for the full vector magnetic field. This article describes the design of the HMI instrument and provides an overview of the pre-launch calibration efforts. Overviews of the investigation, details of the calibrations, data handling, and the science analysis are provided in accompanying articles.

magnetic field↗
NASA NTRS1997

Time-Distance Helioseismology with the MDI Instrument: Initial Results

In time-distance helioseismology, the travel time of acoustic waves is measured between various points on the solar surface. To some approximation, the waves can be considered to follow ray paths that depend only on a mean solar model, with the curvature of the ray paths being caused by the increasing sound speed with depth below the surface. The travel time is effected by various inhomogeneities along the ray path, including flows, temperature inhomogeneities, and magnetic fields. By measuring a large number of times between different locations and using an inversion method, it is possible to construct 3-dimensional maps of the subsurface inhomogeneities. The SOI/MDI experiment on SOHO has several unique capabilities for time-distance helioseismology. The great stability of the images observed without benefit of an intervening atmosphere is quite striking. It his made it possible for us to detect the travel time fo separations of points as small as 2.4 Mm in the high-resolution mode of MDI (0.6 arc sec 1/pixel). This has enabled the detection of the supergranulation flow. Coupled with the inversion technique, we can now study the 3-dimensional evolution of the flows near the solar surface.

Duvall, T. L., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Properties of an impulsive compact solar flare determined from Solar Maximum Mission X-ray measurements

Soft X-ray, hard X-ray magnetogram, and H-alpha data have been analyzed for an impulsive compact solar flare which occurred on May 21, 1985. The derived flare loop dimensions are about 20,000 km length and about 150 km diameter. Measurements of line ratios from the Mg XI ion indicate that the plasma density varied from about 4 x 10 to the 12th/cu cm early in the flare to about 10 to the 12th/cu cm during the flare decay. The initial temperature of this plasma was about 8 x 10 to the 6th K and dropped to about 5 x 10 to the 6th K during the decay phase. The simplest interpretation of the event is one in which the source of the soft X-ray flare emission is confined to a thin loop of very high density.

Linford, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Soft X-ray polychromator for the Solar Maximum Mission

The XRP was designed to measure the following temporal and spatial properties of the active and flaring Sun: electron temperature, departures from steady state, ion kinetic temperatures, and electron density. The Bent Crystal Spectrometer (BCS) is capable of measuring the broadening and blue shifts often observed in the impulsive phase of flares. The six simultaneous line fluxes indicative of six different temperatures of formation observable by the Flat Crystal Spectrometer (FCS) allows the derivation of the differential emission measure of the plasma at each raster point. During the operational periods of the XRP hundreds of flares of C-level (GOES classification) were observed and brighter in both the FCS and BCS, including 5 X-flares. Associated theoretical work in atomic physics, stimulated in part by the promise of XRP measurements, has benefitted from the experimental data on solar plasmas which the XRP has provided in abundance.

Haisch, B. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

SMM observations of K-alpha radiation from fluorescence of photospheric iron by solar flare X-rays

High-resolution Fe K-alpha spectra near 1.94 A observed during solar flares with the Bent Crystal Spectrometer on the Solar Maximum Mission are presented. The evidence for two possible excitation mechanisms, electron impact and fluorescence, is examined. It is found that the fluorescence mechanism satisfactorily describes the results, while the observations do not support electron collisional excitation of the Fe K-alpha transitions in low ionization stages (II-XII) of iron. Using Bai's model of the fluorescent excitation process, the photospheric iron abundance relative to that of hydrogen is estimated to be 5-6 x 10 to the -5th. The mean height of the soft X-ray source producing the K-alpha fluorescence is calculated on the basis of this model for about 40 large flares. The solar K-alpha lines are found to be about 25 percent wider than those measured in the laboratory. Weak line features observed at wavelengths shorter than that of the K-alpha lines are discussed.

Parmar, A. N.↗
NASA NTRS1983

X-ray line ratios from helium-like ions - Updated theory and SMM flare observations

The potential which the conduction of measurements of the three principal lines emitted from helium-like ions has for the determination of plasma electron density was initially pointed out by Gabriel and Jordan (1969). The diagnostic technique is based on the fact that the ratio, R, of the intensity of a forbidden line to the intensity of an intercombination line decreases as electron density increases due to collisional excitation of levels. In the present investigation a further refinement of this procedure is provided by specifically calculating the effects of cascades from levels with principal quantum numbers up to n=6. Two improved spectrometers recently placed in operation include the SOLEX instrument on the satellite P78-1 and the X-ray Polychromator (XRP) instrument on the NASA Solar Maximum Mission satellite. Measurements obtained with one of the spectrometers making up the XRP are presented, taking into account the emission from Ne IX ions.

Wolfson, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the coronal transient associated with the solar limb flare of 1980, June 29, 18:21 UT

The spatial and temporal behavior of excess and depleted density regions of the coronal transient accompanying the west limb solar flare of 18:21 UT on June 29, 1980, is modeled mathematically on the basis of SMM-X-ray-polychrometer data, and the results are compared to observations made with the radio spectrograph at Harvard Radio Astronomy Station at Fort Davis and with the NCAR/HAO Mark III K-coronameter at Mauna Loa. Input data for the model include T(max) = about 20 x 10 to the 6th K, n(max) = about 4 x 10 to the 11th/cu cm, and an assumed ejection velocity of 200 km/sec. Computations using an improved 2D nonplane MHD model are carried out for locally open and closed magnetic topologies. The spatially wide, large-amplitude, temporarily steepened MHD wave predicted by the model for both magnetic topologies is shown to agree well with the observations, except that the predicted density enhancement exceeded observed values by at least 50 percent for the closed field and by a factor of 3 for the open field. This discrepancy is seen as an indication that the mass emitting soft X-rays was confined in closed-field regions near the sun during the obervation period.

Wu, S. T.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Solar flare X-ray spectra from the Solar Maximum Mission Flat Crystal Spectrometer

High-resolution solar X-ray spectra obtained with the Flat Crystal Spectrometer aboard the Solar Maximum Mission from two solar flares and a nonflaring active region are analyzed. The 1-22 A region was observed during the flare on 1980 August 25, while smaller spectral regions were repeatedly covered during the 1980 November 5 flare. Voigt profiles were fitted to spectral lines to derive accurate wavelengths and to resolve blends. During the August 25 flare, 205 lines were found in the range 5.68-18.97 A, identifications being provided for all but 40 (mostly weak) lines. Upper limits to flare densities are derived from various line ratios, the hotter (about 10 to the 7th K) ions giving an electron density of less than 10 to the 12th per cu cm for the August 25 flare. Other observed line ratios (e.g., in Fe XVII and Mg XII) indicate a need for revisions in theoretical calculations.

Phillips, K. J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Soft X-ray emission from active regions shortly before solar flares

Detailed examination of the variations in the intensity of soft X-ray emission prior to many solar flares are presented. In addition, these preflare intensity variations are contrasted with the variations typically observed for the same active regions in the absence of a flare. It is shown that a 5-20 min preflare brightening phase is not typically observed. These observations are discussed in context with other complementary investigations and theoretical models.

Wolfson, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Fluorescent excitation of photospheric Fe K-alpha emission during solar flares

The Bent Crystal Spectrometer on the NASA Solar Maximum Mission satellite provides high spectral and temporal resolution observations of the Fe K-alpha lines. Analyses have been conducted of spectra from almost 50 solar flares that occurred during 1980. These data strongly support fluorescent excitation of photospheric iron by photons of E greater than 7.11 keV emitted by the hot coronal plasma produced during the flare. After comparison of the data with a model, the observed K-alpha line widths are discussed along with estimates of the size of the emitting region, the height of the coronal source and the photospheric iron abundance.

Parmar, A. N.↗
NASA NTRS1981

X-ray line widths and coronal heating

Preliminary results of spectroscopy and imaging of a solar active region and flare plasma in soft X-ray emission lines are presented. Observed X-ray line widths in a nonflaring active region are broader than the Doppler width corresponding to the local electron temperature. An analysis of 41 soft X-ray flares within a single active region reveals a preference for flares to occur at locations that already show enhanced X-ray emission and to favor magnetic complexity over high gradient. However, flares do not appear to be directly responsible for the heating and X-ray production of the active regions.

Acton, L. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

X-ray spectra of solar flares obtained with a high-resolution bent crystal spectrometer

Preliminary results obtained for three solar flares with the bent crystal spectrometer on the SMM are presented. Resonance and satellite lines of Ca XIX and XVIII and Fe XXV and XXIV are observed together with the Fe XXVI Lyman-alpha line. Plasma properties are deduced from line ratios and evidence is presented for changes of line widths coincident with the occurrence of a hard X-ray impulsive burst. Fe K-alpha spectra from a disk center and a limb flare agree with the predictions of a fluorescence excitation model. However, a transient Fe K-alpha burst observed in a third flare may be explained by the collisional ionization of cool iron by energetic electrons.

Culhane, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

OSO-8 observations of the impulsive phase of solar flares in the transition-zone and corona

Several solar flares were observed from their onset in C IV 1548.2 A and 1-8 A X-rays using instruments on OSO-8. It is found that impulsive brightening in C IV is often accompanied by redshifts, interpreted as downflows, of the order of 80 km/s. The maximum soft X-ray intensity usually arrives several minutes after the maximum C IV intensity. The most energetic C IV event observed shows a small blueshift just before reaching maximum intensity; estimates of the mass flux associated with this upflow through the transition zone are consistent with the increase of mass in the coronal loops as observed in soft X-rays. Finally, it is suggested that the frequent occurrence of violent dynamical processes at the onset of the flare is associated with the initial energy release mechanism.

Lites, B. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The Lockheed OSO-8 program. Analysis of data from the mapping X-ray heliometer experiment

The final report describes the extent of the analysis effort, and other activities associated with the preservation and documentation of the data set are described. The main scientific results, which are related to the behavior of individual solar activity regions in the energy band 1.5 - 15 keV, are summarized, and a complete bibliography of publications and presentations is given. Copies of key articles are also provided.

Acton, L. W.↗
NASA NTRS1979

An investigation of the 1.9 A feature in solar-flare X-ray spectra

The 1.9 A feature, observed in the X-ray spectra of three solar flares with the Columbia University and Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory spectrometers on the OSO 8 satellite, is shown to be due to a blend of 1s-2p transitions in a range of Fe ions. In the temperature range 9-16 x -10 to the 6th K, the feature has a mean wavelength of 1.900 + or - 0.009 A and is 0.04 A wider than a single line, indicating that the main contributors are Fe XIX-Fe XXII. Most of the emission originates from the dielectronic recombination process, and when inner-shell excitation is included together with normal collisional excitation, the observed intensity of the feature can be accounted for adequately. For these events, if the electron density is below approximately 10 to the 12th/cu cm, deviations from ionization equilibrium will be significant for ions more highly ionized than Fe XXI.

Parkinson, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Does the emission measure decrease during the start of a soft X-ray flare

It is suggested that the apparent emission dip found in soft X-ray flare observations, interpreted as the emission from a single temperature plasma, is an artifact. According to this hypothesis, the flare phenomenon represents a combination of flare plus a stable active region plasma. A small amount of hot flare plasma will dominate the total emission, and the calculated isothermal plasma parameters will trend towards those of the hot flare plasma, so that a decrease in emission measure will be inferred. It is claimed that observed data fit the model of a stable plasma plus a flare plasma better than it does the model of a single plasma, in accordance with a chi square statistic. The model of stable plasma plus flare plasma is also supported by the observation that the plasma parameters in the postflare condition are indistinguishable from those during preflare.

Wolfson, C. J.↗