Energetics of an active region observed from helium-like sulphur lines

Abstract

We report temperature diagnostics derived from helium-like ions of sulphur for an active region NOAA 7978 obtained with Bragg Crystal Spectrometer (BCS) on board the Yohkoh satellite. For the same region we estimate conductive flux downward to the chromosphere by the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite. This region appeared as a region of soft X-ray enhancement in May 1996, underwent a period of enhanced activity coinciding with flux emergence between 6 July and 12 July, and then continued to exist in a nearly flareless state for several solar rotations until November 1996. Energy balance of the non-flaring active region is basically consistent with a model of an arcade of coronal loops having an average loop-top temperature of 4x10(6) K. Energy from flare activity during a period of flux emergence is comparable to the energy requirements of the non-flaring active region. However, the non-flaring energy is roughly constant for the subsequent solar rotations following the birth of the active region even after the flare activity essentially subsided. Energy partition between flare activity and steady active-region heating thus varies significantly over the lifetime of the active region, and active-region emission cannot always be identified with flaring.