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NASA NTRS1994

The resonance lines of MG2 as diagnostics of the upper solar chromosphere

The resonance lines of singly ionized magnesium, the MgII h&k lines at about 280 nm, are two of the small number of lines in the solar spectrum that are optically thick in the chromospheric part of the solar atmosphere. Potentially these lines contain information on the initial temperature rise that occurs at the top of the photosphere. Unfortunately, few good observations of the lines exist due to their wavelength near 280 nm the ultraviolet. However, a fair number of observations (on the order of 200) are available from the data base of the UltraViolet Polarimeter and Spectrometer (UVSP) instrument that flew on board of NASA's Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) satellite. In addition, this data base contains a number of spectra that include the Mg I resonance line at (lambda)285.2nm, just longward of the h&k lines. The neutral magnesium line is not as strong as its ionic counterparts and samples slightly lower parts of the atmosphere. Its width is a sensitive diagnostic of the ionization balance between neutral and singly ionized magnesium, which determines the opacity scale (and formation height) of other diagnostically important MgI lines like the 457.1 nm intercombination line, the magnesium b lines and the infrared MgI emission lines near 12 microns. Analysis of the observed line profiles shows that it is necessary to include the effects of partial frequency redistribution (PRD) in the formation of the line as in the case of the h&k lines. This implies that the core of the line is very sensitive to the way scattering is treated in the modeling of the line, and in turn this allows us to separate the uncertain effects in the atomic data (viz. the Van der Waals broadening) from the uncertainties in the underlying atmospheric model. The main objective of this research was to compare observed spectra of the magnesium resonance lines against theoretical line profiles calculated from recent models of the solar atmosphere by Fontenla et al., hereafter called FAL. These models extend earlier solar models by Avrett et al. and provide yet a better match between observed and calculated spectra, in particular of the hydrogen Lyman line, by including the effects of ambipolar diffusion of hydrogen and helium in the mass and energy transport equations for the chromosphere-corona transition region. Although the transition region models can be built self-consistently (without additional observational input) once the proper boundary conditions are given at the top of the chromosphere, there are uncertainties in the models precisely because these boundary conditions are not well known. With the analysis of UVSP magnesium observations we strive to constrain these uncertainties.

Avrett, Eugene H.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Analytic Lyman-alpha wing diagnostics and the chromospheric excitation balance in cool dwarfs

I show that the Lyman alpha wings of cool dwarfs can be understood in terms of a very simple model, based on a simplified representation of the chromospheric hydrogen excitation balance and approximate analytic wing diagnostics in partial redistribution. Much of the complexity of the radiation transfer in the partially coherent and steeply temperature-sensitive Lyman alpha line is circumvented by this technique. The result is an expedient scheme for inverting the Lyman alpha wing profile to determine the characteristic free electron density and its gradient in the middle chromosphere. This represents an important new diagnostic for constraining chromospheric models and their radiative losses. I apply this diagnostic to the Lyman alpha wing profiles of the Sun and AU Mic and show that current instrumentation, most notably the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) on the Hubble Space Telescope, is capable of providing the necessary data.

Gayley, K. G.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Do we have a radio powerful star without a chromosphere?

Two radio stars are selected, both equally powerful in microwave radio emission, but one of which, HD 101379, with a superpower chromosphere, and the other one, HD 132742, without a noticable chromosphere. On International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) recordings of HD 132742, a binary system like HD 101319, the doublet 2800 Mg II appears in absorption. However, in the last case the faint emission traces of k and h Mg II have been discovered in the lowest parts of absorption profiles. The reconstructed profiles of these emission details seem to be shifted to the relation of absorption profiles, which may be interpreted as a confirmation of the non-chromospheric nature of these details. In the case of radio star HD 101379, also a binary system, on the contrary, the doublet 2800 Mg II appears as a strong emission, without shift. These limiting cases may be combined assuming that the sources of both types of emission, radio and magnesium doublet, are located in the space between the components of binary systems. The parameters of these sources are obtained.

Gurzadyan, G. A.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Spectroscopy of chromospheric lines of giants in the globular cluster

Spectroscopic observations of chromospheric transitions (Mg II, H-alpha, and Ca II K) from two red giants (A31 and A59) in the globular cluster NGC 6572 were made with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope and the coude spectrograph of the 1.9 m telescope at the Mount Stromlo Observatory. These measurements give evidence for chromospheric activity and outward motions within the atmospheres. The surface flux of the Mg II emission is comparable to that in disk population giants of similar (B-V) color. The Mg II profiles are asymmetric, which is most likely caused by absorption in an expanding stellar atmosphere and/or by possible interstellar features. Notches are found in the core of the H-alpha line of A59, which are similar to those found in Cepheids. This suggests that shocks are present in the atmosphere of A59 and indicates that hydrodynamic phenomena are influencing the levvel of chromospheric emission and producing upper atmospheric motions which may lead to mass loss.

Dupree, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Does a nonmagnetic solar chromosphere exist?

Enhanced chromospheric emission, which corresponds to an outwardly increasing semiempirical temperature structure, can be produced by wave motion without any increase in the mean gas temperature. Hence, the Sun may not have a classical chromosphere in magnetic field-free internetwork regions. Other significant differences between the properties of dynamic and static atmospheres should be considered when analyzing chromospheric observations.

Carlsson, Mats↗

NASA NTRS1994

A search for chromospheric emission in A-type stars using the Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph

We have used the Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to search for chromospheric emission in the ultraviolet C II 1335 A lines of eight A-type stars. The B-V colors of these stars range from 0.12 to 0.22. We have detected emission in the spectrum of the A7 V star Altair, but in no other star. We present tentative evidence that the emission from Altair is blueshifted by approximately 60 km per sec or more with respect to the photospheric spectrum of this star. We interpret this as expansion and suggest that the base of the A star winds that we have proposed in earlier work may lie within the chromosphere. Together with International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) spectra, our observations indicate that in ordinary main-sequence stars the onset of convection zones capable of supporting detectable chromospheres occurs in the close vicinity of B-V = 0.22.

Simon, Theodore↗

NASA NTRS1995

Heating of the solar middle chromosphere by large-scale electric currents

A global resistive, two-dimensional, time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model is used to introduce and support the hypothesis that the quiet solar middle chromosphere is heated by resistive dissipation of large-scale electric currents which fill most of its volume. The scale height and maximum magnitude of the current density are 400 km and 31.3 m/sq m, respectively. The associated magnetic field is almost horizontal, has the same scale height as the current density, and has a maximum magnitude of 153 G. The current is carried by electrons flowing across magnetic field lines at 1 m/s. The resistivity is the electron contribution to the Pedersen resitivity for a weakly ionized, strongly magnetized, hydrogen gas. The model does not include a driving mechanism. Most of the physical quantities in the model decrease exponentially with time on a resistive timescale of 41.3 minutes. However, the initial values and spatial; dependence of these quantities are expected to be essentially the same as they would be if the correct driving mechanism were included in a more general model. The heating rate per unit mass is found to be 4.5 x 10(exp 9) ergs/g/s, independent of height and latitude. The electron density scale height is found to be 800 km. The model predicts that 90% of the thermal energy required to heat the middle chromosphere is deposited in the height range 300-760 km above the temperature minimum. It is shown to be consistent to assume that the radiation rate per unit volume is proportional to the magnetic energy density, and then it follows that the heating rate per unit volume is also proportional to the energy from the photosphere into the overlying chromosphere are briefly discussed as possible driving mechanisms for establishing and maintaining the current system. The case in which part of or all of the current is carried by protons and metal ions, and the contribution of electron-proton scattering to the current are also considered, with the conclusion that these effects do not change the qualitative prediction of the model, but probably change the quantitative predictions slightly, mainly by increasing the maximum magntiude of the current density and magnetic field to at most approximately 100 mA/m and approximately 484 G, respectively. The heating rate per unit mass, current density scale height, magnetic field scale height, temperatures, and pressures are unchanged or are only slightly changed by including these additional effects due to protons and ions.

Goodman, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Pole-equator difference and the variability of the brightness of the chromospheric CaII-K-network elements in quiet regions over the solar cycle

The dependence of the brightness of chromospheric network elements on latitude was investigated for quiet solar regions. Calibrated photographic CaII K-spectroheliograms were used to compare the variation in brightness at the center of the disk with higher latitude of chromospheric network elements in a quiet region as a function of solar activity. It was found that there was no significant difference in brightness between the center of the solar disk and higher latitude. It is concluded that the brightness of the chromospheric network elements in a quiet region does not depend on the latitude, but that the variation in the intensity enhancement is related to the level of solar activity.

Kariyappa, R.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Tracing Ca K grains through the chromosphere into the transition region

The propagation of Ca K grains from the lower chromosphere into the transition region is studied. Data from the solar ultraviolet measurement of emitted radiation (SUMER) and the VTT at Inzana (Tenerife) instruments were used. The purpose of the study was to investigate the formation of shock waves in the chromosphere. The most dynamical features in the chromosphere defined by the bright Ca II K emission in the filtergrams and spectrograms were analyzed.

Steffens, S.↗

NASA NTRS2000

On the Origin and Evolution of Stellar Chromospheres, Coronae and Winds

This grant was awarded by NASA to The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) to construct state-of-the-art, theoretical, two-component, chromospheric models for single stars of different spectral types and different evolutionary status. In our proposal, we suggested to use these models to predict the level of the "basal flux", the observed range of variation of chromospheric activity for a given spectral type, and the decrease of this activity with stellar age. In addition, for red giants and supergiants, we also proposed to construct self-consistent, purely theoretical wind models, and used these models to investigate the origin of "dividing lines" in the H-R diagram. In the following, we describe our completed work. We have accomplished the first main goal of our proposal by constructing first purely theoretical, time-dependent and two-component models of stellar chromospheres.1 The models require specifying only three basic stellar parameters, namely, the effective temperature, gravity and rotation rate, and they take into account non-magnetic and magnetic regions in stellar chromospheres. The non-magnetic regions are heated by acoustic waves generated by the turbulent convection in the stellar subphotospheric layers. The magnetic regions are identified with magnetic flux tubes uniformly distributed over the entire stellar surface and they are heated by longitudinal tube waves generated by turbulent motions in the subphotospheric and photospheric layers. The coverage of stellar surface by magnetic regions (the so-called filling factor) is estimated for a given rotation rate from an observational relationship. The constructed models are time-dependent and are based on the energy balance between the amount of mechanical energy supplied by waves and radiative losses in strong Ca II and Mg II emission lines. To calculate the amount of wave energy in the non-magnetic regions, we have used the Lighthill-Stein theory for sound generation.

Musielak, Z. E.↗

NASA NTRS1998

A Multiplicity Survey of Chromospherically Active and Inactive Stars

Surveys of the three samples of solar-type stars, segregated by chromospheric emission level, were made to determine their multiplicity fractions and to investigate the evolution of multiplicity with age. In total, 245 stars were searched for companions with DeltaV <= 3.0 and separations of 0.035" to 1.08" using optical speckle interferometry, By incorporating the visual micrometer survey for duplicity of the LamontHussey Observatory, the angular coverage was extended to 5.0" with no change in in the DeltaV limit. This magnitude difference allows mass ratios of 0.63 and larger to be detected throughout a search region of 2-127 AU for the stars observed. The 84 primaries observed in the chromospherically active sample are presumably part of a young population and are found to have a multiplicity fraction of 17.9% +/- 4.6%. The sample of 118 inactive, presumably older, primaries were selected and observed using identical methods and are found to have a multiplicity fraction of only 8.5% +/- 2.7%. Given the known link between chromospheric activity and age, these results tentatively imply a decreasing stellar multiplicity fraction from 1 to 4 Gyr, the approximate ages of the two samples. Finally, only two of the 14 very active primaries observed were found to have a companion meeting the survey detection parameters. In this case, many of the systems are either very young, or close, RS CVn type multiples that are unresolvable using techniques employed here.

Mason, Brian D.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Optical and X-ray studies of chromospherically active stars: FR Cancri, HD 95559 and LO Pegasi

We present a multiwavelength study of three chromospherically active stars, namely FR Cnc (= BD +16 degrees 1753), HD 95559 and LO Peg (=BD +22 degrees 4409), including newly obtained optical photometry, (for FR Cnc) low-resolution optical spectroscopy, as well as archival IR and X-ray observations. The BVR photometry carried out during the years 2001 - 2004 has found significant photometric variability to be present in all three stars. For FR Cnc, a photometric period 0.826685 +/- 0.000034 d has been established. The strong variation in the phase and amplitude of the FR Cnc light curves when folded on this period implies the presence of evolving and migrating spots or spot groups on its surface. Two independent spots with migration periods of 0.97 and 0.93 years respectively are inferred. The photometry of HD 95559 suggests the formation of a spot (group) during the interval of our observations. We infer the existence of two independent spots or groups in the photosphere of LO Peg, one of which has a migration period of 1.12 years. The optical spectroscopy of FR Cnc carried out during 2002-2003, reveals the presence of strong and variable Ca I1 H and K, H(sub beta) and H(sub alpha) emission features indicative of high level of chromospheric activity. The value of 5.3 for the ratio of the excess emission in H(sub alpha) to H(sub beta), EH(sub alpha)/EH(sub beta), suggests that the chromospheric emission may arise from an extended off-limb region. We have searched for the presence of color excesses in the near-IR JHK bands of these stars using 2MASS data, but none of them appear to have any significant color excess. We have also analyzed archival X-ray observations of HD 95559 and LO Peg carried out by with the ROSAT observatory. The best fit models to their X-ray spectra imply the presence of two coronal plasma components of differing temperatures and with sub-solar metal abundances. The inferred emission measures and temperatures of these systems are similar to those found for other active dwarf stars. The kinematics of FR Cnc suggest that it is a very young (35 - 55 Myrs) main-sequence star and a possible member of the IC 2391 supercluster. LO Peg also has young disk-type kinematics and has been previously suggested to be a member of the 100 Mys old Local Association (Pleiades Moving Group). The kinematics of HD 95559 indicate it is a possible member of the 600 Myrs old Hyades supercluster.

Pandey, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Chromospheric observations in the helium 1083NM line : a new instrument

Photometric, spectroscopic and polarimetric observations in the Helium 1083 nm line provide important diagnostic information on the structure and dynamics of the chromosphere. We describe an imaging instrument designed to probe the chromosphere in the Helium 1083nm line, based on a Helium magneto-optical filter. The instrument has two narrow passbands ((almost equal to) 0.006 nm) in the wings of each line of the Helium 1083nm triplet, high throughput and stability, making it ideal for making high cadence observations in support of studies of chromospheric dynamics and wave propagation. We describe the characteristics of the instrument and present preliminary observations and discuss future plans.

solar atmosphere↗

NASA NTRS2010

Early Chromospheric Response During a Solar Microflare Observed with SOHO's CDS and RHESSI

We observed a solar microflare with RHESSI and SOHO's Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) on 2009 July 5. With CDS we obtained rapid cadence (7 s) stare spectra within a narrow field of view toward the center of AR 11024. The spectra contain emission lines from ions that cover a wide range of temperature, including He I (< 0.025 MK), O V (0.25 MK), Si XII (2 MK), and Fe XIX (8 MK). The start of a precursor burst of He I and O V line emission preceded the steady increase of Fe XIX line emission by about 1 minute, and the emergence of 3-12 keV X-ray emission by about 4 minutes. Thus the onset of the microflare was observed in upper chromospheric (He I) and transition region (O V) line emission before it was detected in high temperature flare plasma emission. Redshifted O V emission during the precursor suggests explosive chromospheric evaporation, but no corresponding blueshifts were found with either Fe XIX (which was very weak) or Si XII. Similarly, in subsequent microflare brightenings the O V and He I intensities increased (between 49 s and almost 2 minutes) before emissions from the hot flare plasma. Although these time differences likely indicate heating by a nonthermal particle beam, the RHESSI spectra provide no additional evidence for such a beam. In intervals lasting up to about 3 minutes during several bursts, the He I and O V emission line profiles showed secondary, highly blueshifted ( approximately 200 km/s) components; during intervals lasting nearly 1 minute the velocities of the primary and secondary components were oppositely directed. Combined with no corresponding blueshifts in either Fe XIX or Si XII, this indicates that explosive chromospheric evaporation occurred predominantly at either comparatively cool temperatures (< 2 MK) or within a hot temperature range to which our observations were not sensitive (e.g., between 2 and 8 MK).

Brosius, Jeffrey W.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Evidence for Two Separate but Interlaced Components of the Chromospheric Magnetic Field

Chromospheric fibrils are generally thought to trace out horizontal magnetic fields that fan out from flux concentrations in the photosphere. A high-resolution (0.2") image taken in the core of the Ca IJ854.2 nm line shows the dark fibrils within an active region remnant as fine, loop-like features that are aligned parallel to each other and have lengths on the order of a supergranular diameter (approx.30 Mm). Comparison with a line-of-sight magnetogram confirms that the fibrils are centered above intranetwork areas, with one end rooted just inside the neighboring plage or strong unipolar network but the other endpoint less clearly defined. Focusing on a particular arcade-like structure lying entirely on one side of a filament channel (large-scale polarity inversion), we find that the total amount of positive-polarity flux underlying this "fibril arcade' is 50 times greater than the total amount of negative-polarity flux. Thus, if the fibrils represent closed loops, they must consist of very weak fields (in terms of flux density), which are interpenetrated by a more vertical field that contains most of the flux. This surprising result suggests that the fibrils in unipolar regions connect the network to the nearby intranetwork flux, while the bulk of the network flux is diverted upward into the corona and connects to remote regions of the opposite polarity. We conclude that the chromospheric field near the edge of the network has an interlaced structure resembling that in sunspot penumbrae, with the fibrils representing the low-lying horizontal flux that remains trapped within the highly nonpotential chromospheric layer.

Muglach, K.↗

NASA NTRS2014

The Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha Spectro-Polarimeter (CLASP)

To Understand energy release process in the Sun including solar flares, it is essentially important to measure the magnetic field of the atmosphere of the Sun. Magnetic field measurement of the upper layers (upper chromosphere and above) was technically difficult and not well investigated yet. Upper chromosphere and transition region magnetic field measurement by Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha SpectroPolarimeter (CLASP) sounding rocket to be launched in 2015. The proposal is already selected and developments of the flight components are going.

Ishikawa, Shin-nosuke↗

NASA NTRS2014

A Sounding Rocket Experiment for the Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha Spectro-Polarimeter (CLASP)

A sounding-rocket experiment called the Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha Spectro-Polarimeter (CLASP) is presently under development to measure the linear polarization profiles caused by scattering processes and the Hanle effect in the hydrogen Lyman-alpha line (121.567nm). Accurate measurements of the linear polarization signals caused by scattering processes and the Hanle effect are essential to explore the strength and structures of weak magnetic fields. The primary target of future solar telescopes is to measure the weak magnetic field in outer solar atmospheres (from the chromosphere to the corona through the transition region). The hydrogen Lyman-alpha-line is one of the best lines for the diagnostics of magnetic fields in the outer solar atmospheres. CLASP is to be launched in 2015, and will provide, for the first time, the observations required for magnetic field measurements in the upper chromosphere and transition region. CLASP is designed to have a polarimetric sensitivity of 0.1% and a spectral resolution of 0.01nm for the Lyman-alpha line. CLASP will measure two orthogonal polarizations simultaneously for about 5-minute flight. Now the integration of flight mirrors and structures is in progress. In addition to our strategy to realize such a high-precision spectro-polarimetry in the UV, we will present a progress report on our pre-launch evaluation of optical and polarimetric performances of CLASP.

solar↗

NASA NTRS2016

Optical Alignment of the Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha SpectroPolarimeter using Sophisticated Methods to Minimize Activities under Vacuum

The Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha Spectro-Polarimeter (CLASP) is a sounding-rocket instrument developed at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) as a part of an international collaboration. The in- strument main scientific goal is to achieve polarization measurement of the Lyman-alpha line at 121.56 nm emitted from the solar upper-chromosphere and transition region with an unprecedented 0.1% accuracy. For this purpose, the optics are composed of a Cassegrain telescope coated with a "cold mirror" coating optimized for UV reflection and a dual-channel spectrograph allowing for simultaneous observation of the two orthogonal states of polarization. Although the polarization sensitivity is the most important aspect of the instrument, the spatial and spectral resolutions of the instrument are also crucial to observe the chromospheric features and resolve the Ly- pro les. A precise alignment of the optics is required to ensure the resolutions, but experiments under vacuum conditions are needed since Ly-alpha is absorbed by air, making the alignment experiments difficult. To bypass this issue, we developed methods to align the telescope and the spectrograph separately in visible light. We will explain these methods and present the results for the optical alignment of the CLASP telescope and spectrograph. We will then discuss the combined performances of both parts to derive the expected resolutions of the instrument, and compare them with the flight observations performed on September 3rd 2015.

CLASP↗