D-region recombination coefficients and the short wavelength X-ray flux during a solar flare

Abstract

VLF phase and amplitude measurements were made on five different frequencies at São Paulo, Brazil during a solar flare which occurred on 22nd January 1972. The phase and amplitude measurements during the decay phase of the flare were combined with the full wave solutions of Wait and Spies (1964) to calculate the recombination coefficient in the lower ionosphere. The values thus obtained are lower than those reported by Reid (1970), but are compatible with those reported by Montbriand et al. (1972) during Solar X-ray events. The effective loss rates have been utilized to calculate the ion-production at the maximum of the flare, which in turn has been utilized to calculate the incident X-ray flux as a function of wavelength at the maximum of the flare. Extensions to the calculations are discussed.