The hydrogen emission spectrum in three white-light flares

Abstract

We present spectral data for three white-light flares (WLFs) showing Balmer continuum at wavelengths ≲ 3700 A. These flares also have a weaker continuum extending toward longer wavelengths, from which, in one flare where this continuum is sufficiently bright, we are able to identify a Paschen jump near 8500 A. The presence of the latter suggests that the Paschen continuum may be a substantial contributor to the WLF continuum at visible wavelengths. We note the possibility, therefore, that the entire continuum of this particular flare may be dominated by H fb emission.