Hα Line Research Articles

Emission line velocity, metallicity and extinction maps of the Small Magellanic Cloud

Abstract Optical emission lines across the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) have been measured from multiple fields using the Australian National University (ANU) 2.3m telescope with the Wide-Field Spectrograph (WiFeS). Interpolated maps of the gas-phase metallicity, extinction, Hα radial velocity and Hα velocity dispersion have been made from these measurements. There is a metallicity gradient from the centre to the north of the galaxy of ∼−0.095 dex/kpc with a shallower metallicity gradient from the centre to the south of the galaxy of ∼−0.013 dex/kpc. There is a extinction gradient of ∼−0.086 E(B-V)/kpc from the centre going north and shallower going from the centre to the south of ∼−0.0089 E(B-V)/kpc. The SMC eastern arm has lower extinction than the main body. The radial velocity of the gas from the Hα line and the H i line have been compared across the SMC. In general there is good agreement between the two measurements, though there are a few notable exceptions. Both show a region that has different radial velocity to the bulk motion of the SMC in the southern western corner by at least 16 km s−1. The velocity dispersion from Hα and H i across the SMC have also been compared, with the Hα velocity dispersion usually the higher of the two. The eastern arm of the SMC generally has lower velocity dispersion than the SMC’s main body. These measurements enable a detailed examination of the SMC, highlighting its nature as a disrupted satellite galaxy.

Coronal and chromospheric activity of Teegarden’s star

Teegarden’s star is a late-type M-dwarf planet host, typically showing only rather low levels of activity. In this paper we present an extensive characterisation of this activity at photospheric, chromospheric, and coronal levels. We specifically investigated TESS observations of Teegarden’s star, which showed two very large flares with an estimated flare fluence between 1029 and 1032 erg comparable to the largest solar flares. We furthermore analysed nearly 300 CARMENES spectra and 11 ESPRESSO spectra covering all the usually used chromospheric lines in the optical from the Ca II H & K lines at 3930 Å to the He I infrared triplet at 10 830 Å. These lines show different behaviour: The He I infrared triplet is the only one absent in all spectra, some lines show up only during flares, and others are always present and highly variable. Specifically, the Hα line is more or less filled in during quiescence; however, the higher Balmer lines are still observed in emission. Many chromospheric lines show a correlation with Hα variability, which, in addition to stochastic behaviour, shows systematic behaviour on different timescales including the rotation period. Moreover, we found several flares and also report hints of an erupting prominence, which may have led to a coronal mass ejection. Finally, we present X-ray observations of Teegarden’s star (i.e. a discovery pointing obtained with the Chandra observatory) and an extensive study with the XMM-Newton observatory, which observed two large flares. One of these showed clear signatures of the Neupert effect, suggesting the production of hard X-rays in the system.

VLT/MUSE Detection of Accretion/Ejection Associated with the Close Stellar Companion in the HT Lup System

The accretion/ejection processes in T Tauri stars are fundamental to their physical evolution, while also impacting the properties and evolution of the circumstellar material at a time when planet formation takes place. To date, the characterization of ongoing accretion processes in stellar pairs at 5–50 au scales has been challenging as high-angular resolution spectrographs are required to extract the spectral features of each component. We present the analysis of spectroscopic observations of the tight (160 mas, 25 au) T Tauri system HT Lup A/B, obtained with MUSE at the Very Large Telescope in 2021 March and July. We focus on constraining the accretion/ejection processes and variability of the secondary component HT Lup B by searching for accretion tracers by applying high-resolution spectral differential imaging techniques. We retrieve strong (signal-to-noise ratio > 5) Hα, Hβ, and [O i]λ6300 emission in both epochs. The Hα and Hβ line fluxes showcase high variability, with variations up to 200%–300% between epochs. The fluxes are consistent with accretion rates of 3× 10−9 M ⊙ yr−1 and 8 × 10−10 M ⊙ yr−1 for the first and second epochs, respectively. We attribute the increased accretion activity during the first night to a “burst-like” event, followed by a relaxation period more representative of the common accretion activity of the system. The [O i]λ6300 line profiles remain relatively similar between epochs and suggest ejection rates on the order of 10−9−10−10 M ⊙ yr−1, compatible with moderate disk wind emission. Our results also indicate that the accretion processes of HT Lup B are compatible with Classical T Tauri stars, unlike previous classifications.

EDIG-CHANGES

Context. The kinematic information of the extraplanar diffuse ionized gas (eDIG) around galaxies provides clues to the origin of the gas. Aims. The eDIG-CHANGES project studies the physical and kinematic properties of the eDIG around the CHANG-ES sample of nearby edge-on disk galaxies. Methods. We use a novel multi-slit narrow-band spectroscopy technique to obtain the spatial distribution of the spectral properties of the ionized gas around NGC 891, which is often regarded as an analogue of the Milky Way. We developed specific data reduction procedures for the multi-slit narrow-band spectroscopy data taken with the MDM 2.4 m telescope. The data presented in this paper cover the Hα and [N II]λλ6548, 6583 Å emission lines. Results. The eDIG traced by the Hα and [N II] lines shows an obvious asymmetric morphology, being brighter in the northeastern part of the galactic disk and extending a few kiloparsecs above and below the disk. Global variations in the [N II]/Hα line ratio suggest additional heating mechanisms for the eDIG at large heights beyond photoionization. We also construct position-velocity (PV) diagrams of the eDIG based on our optical multi-slit spectroscopy data and compare them to similar PV diagrams constructed with the H I data. The dynamics of the two gas phases are generally consistent with each other. Modelling the rotation curves at different heights from the galactic mid-plane suggests a vertical negative gradient in turnover radius and maximum rotation velocity, with magnitudes of approximately 3 kpc kpc−1 and 22 − 25 km s−1 kpc−1, respectively. Conclusions. Our measured vertical gradients of the rotation curve parameters suggest significant differential rotation of the ionized gas in the halo, often referred to as the lagging eDIG. Systematic study of the lagging eDIG, using the multi-slit narrow-band spectroscopy technique developed in our eDIG-CHANGES project, will help us to better understand the dynamics of the ionized gas in the halo.

Thread Displacement and Intensity Oscillations in a Quiescent Prominence

In this paper, we investigate the thread displacement and intensity oscillations in a quiescent prominence observed by New Vacuum Solar Telescope at the Hα line center on 2019 October 31. Each individual thread is traced by the local maximum intensity among its width at various times. In total, 35 threads are detected at six heights parallel to the solar surface. We find 29/35 threads exhibiting the displacement oscillation. A sinusoidal function is used to fit them, and a mean period of 26 minutes is identified. By slicing the same thread at different positions, we find that the oscillation of the thread is very likely a standing wave, but it could also be a long-wavelength propagating wave. After integrating the intensity along the thread width, we also find 8/35 threads presenting their intensity oscillation with a mean period of 7.7 minutes. In total, 7/35 threads exhibit both the displacement and the intensity oscillations.

Spatially Resolved Comparison of SFRs from UV and Hα in GASP Gas-stripped Galaxies

Star formation rates (SFRs) in galaxies offer a view of various physical processes across them, and are measured using various tracers, such as Hα and ultraviolet (UV). Different physical mechanisms can affect Hα and UV emission, resulting in a discrepancy in the corresponding SFR estimates (ΔSFR). We investigate the effects of ram pressure on the SFR measurements and ΔSFR across five galaxies from the GASP survey caught in the late stages of gas stripping due to ram pressure. We probe spatially resolved ΔSFR at pixel scales of 0.5 kpc, and compare disks to tails and regions dominated by the dense gas to diffuse ionized gas (DIG) regions. The regions dominated by dense gas show similar SFR values for UV and Hα tracers, while the regions dominated by the DIG show up to 0.5 dex higher SFR(UV). There is a large galaxy-by-galaxy variation in ΔSFR, with no difference between the disks and the tails. We discuss the potential causes of variations in ΔSFR between the dense gas and DIG areas. We conclude that the dominant cause of discrepancy are recent variations in star formation histories, where star formation recently dropped in the DIG-dominated regions leading to changes in ΔSFR. The areal coverage of the tracers shows areas with Hα and no UV emission; these areas have LINER-like emission (excess in [O i λ6300]/Hα line ratio), indicating that they are ionized by processes other than star formation.

Connectivity between the solar photosphere and chromosphere in a vortical structure

Context. High-resolution solar observations have revealed the existence of small-scale vortices, as seen in chromospheric intensity maps and velocity diagnostics. Frequently, these vortices have been observed near magnetic flux concentrations, indicating a link between swirls and the evolution of the small-scale magnetic fields. Vortices have also been studied with magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulations of the solar atmosphere, revealing their complexity, dynamics, and magnetic nature. In particular, it has been proposed that a rotating magnetic field structure driven by a photospheric vortex flow at its footprint produces the chromospheric swirling plasma motion. Aims. We present a complete and comprehensive description of the time evolution of a small-scale magnetic flux concentration interacting with the intergranular vortex flow and affected by processes of intensification and weakening of its magnetic field. In addition, we study the chromospheric dynamics associated with the interaction, including the analysis of a chromospheric swirl and an impulsive chromospheric jet. Methods. We studied observations taken with the CRisp Imaging SpectroPolarimeter (CRISP) instrument and the CHROMospheric Imaging Spectrometer (CHROMIS) at the Swedish Solar Telescope (SST) in April 2019. The data were recorded at quiet-Sun disc centre, consisting of full Stokes maps in the Fe I line at 6173 Å and in the Ca II infrared triplet line at 8542 Å, as well as spectroscopic maps in the lines of Hα 6563 Å and Ca II K 3934 Å. Utilising the multi-wavelength data and performing height-dependent Stokes inversion, based on methods of local correlation tracking and wavelet analysis, we studied several atmospheric properties during the event lifetime. This approach allowed us to interpret the spatial and temporal connectivity between the photosphere and the chromosphere. Results. We identified the convective collapse process as the initial mechanism of magnetic field intensification, generating a re-bound flow moving upwards within the magnetic flux concentration. This disturbance eventually steepens into an acoustic shock wave that dissipates in the lower chromosphere, heating it locally. We observed prolonged magnetic field amplification when the vortex flow disappears during the propagation of the upward velocity disturbance. We propose that this type of magnetic field amplification could be attributed to changes in the local vorticity. Our analysis indicates the rotation of a magnetic structure that extends from the photosphere to the chromosphere, anchored to a photospheric magnetic flux concentration. It appears to be affected by a propagating shock wave and its subsequent dissipation process could be related to the release of the jet.

Hidden by a star: The redshift and the offset broad line of the flat-spectrum radio quasar PKS 0903–57

Context. PKS 0903−57 is a little-studied γ-ray blazar that has recently attracted considerable interest due to the strong flaring episodes observed since 2020 in high energy (HE; 100 MeV ≤ E ≤ 100 GeV) and very high-energy (VHE; 100 GeV ≤ E ≤ 10 TeV) γ-rays. Its nature and properties are still not well determined. In particular, it is unclear whether PKS 0903−57 is a BL Lac or a flat-spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ), while its redshift estimation relies on a possibly misassociated low signal-to-noise ratio spectrum. Aims. Our aims were to reliably measure the redshift of the blazar, and to determine its spectral type and luminosity in the optical range. Methods. We performed spectroscopy of the optical counterpart of the blazar using the South African Large Telescope (SALT) and the Very Large Telescope (VLT), and monitored it photometrically with the Rapid Eye Mount (REM) telescope. Results. We firmly measured the redshift of the blazar as z = 0.2621 ± 0.0006 thanks to the detection of five narrow optical lines. The detection of a symmetric broad Hα line with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 4020 ± 30 km/s together with a jet-dominated continuum leads us to classify it as a FSRQ. Finally, we detected with high significance a redshift offset (∼1500 km/s) between the broad line and the host. This is the first time that such an offset has been unequivocally detected in a VHE blazar, possibly pointing to a very peculiar accretion configuration, a merging system, or a recoiling black hole.

Deciphering the JWST spectrum of a ‘little red dot’ at z ∼ 4.53: An obscured AGN and its star-forming host

JWST has revealed a class of numerous, extremely compact sources with rest-frame red optical/near-infrared (NIR) and blue ultraviolet (UV) colours nicknamed ‘little red dots’. We present one of the highest signal-to-noise ratio JWST NIRSpec prism spectra of a little red dot, J0647_1045 at z = 4.5319 ± 0.0001, and examine its NIRCam morphology to differentiate the origin of the UV and optical/NIR emission and elucidate the nature of the little red dot phenomenon. J0647_1045 is unresolved (re ≲ 0.17 kpc) in the three NIRCam long-wavelength filters but significantly extended (re = 0.45 ± 0.06 kpc) in the three short-wavelength filters, indicating a red compact source in a blue star-forming galaxy. The spectral continuum shows a clear change in slope, from blue in the optical/UV to red in the rest-frame optical/NIR, which is consistent with two distinct components fit by power laws with different attenuations: AV = 0.38 ± 0.01 (UV) and AV = 5.61 ± 0.04 (optical/NIR). Fitting the Hα line requires both broad (full width at half maximum of ∼4300 ± 100 km s−1) and narrow components, but none of the other emission lines, including Hβ, show evidence of broadness. We calculated AV = 0.9 ± 0.4 from the Balmer decrement using narrow Hα and Hβ and AV > 4.1 ± 0.1 from broad Hα and an upper limit on broad Hβ, which is consistent with blue and red continuum attenuation, respectively. Based on a single-epoch Hα line width, the mass of the central black hole is 8−0.4+0.5 × 108 M⊙. Our findings are consistent with a multi-component model, in which the optical/NIR and broad lines arise from a highly obscured, spatially unresolved region, likely a relatively massive active galactic nucleus, while the less obscured UV continuum and narrow lines arise, at least partly, from a small but spatially resolved star-forming host galaxy.

An Edge-on Regular Disk Galaxy at z = 5.289

While rotation-supported gas disks are known to exist as early as at z ≈ 7, it is still a general belief that stellar disks form late in the Universe. This picture is now being challenged by the observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which have revealed a large number of disk-like galaxies that could be at z > 3, with some being candidates at z > 7. As an early formation of stellar disks will greatly impact our theory of galaxy formation and evolution, it is important to determine when such systems first emerged. Here we present D-CEERS-RUBIES-z5289 at z = 5.289 ± 0.001, the second confirmed stellar disk at z > 5, discovered using the archival JWST NIRCam imaging and NIRSpec spectroscopic data. This galaxy has a highly regular edge-on disk morphology, extends to ∼6.2 kpc along its major axis, and has an effective radius of ∼1.3–1.4 kpc. Such a large stellar disk is yet to be produced in numerical simulations. By analyzing its 10-band spectral energy distribution using four different tools, we find that it has a high stellar mass of 109.5–10.0 M ⊙. Its age is in the range of 330–510 Myr, and it has a mild star formation rate of 10–30 M ⊙ yr−1. While the current spectroscopic data do not allow the derivation of its rotation curve, the width of its Hα line from the partial slit coverage on one side of the disk reaches ∼345 km s−1, which suggests that it could have a significant contribution from rotation.

Laser-induced plasma analysis of ammonia-oxygen and ammonia-oxygen-enriched-air flames at elevated pressures

This study employed Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to measure the fuel-oxidizer ratio (FOR) of ammonia combustion with oxygen-enriched air and pure oxygen flames at elevated pressures (100 - 300 kPa). The correlations between the spectral line intensity ratios of nitrogen (N), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and equivalence ratio were used to quantify the FOR of flames at various pressures. The effect of pressure on the stability and precision of the calibration profiles for the elemental intensity ratios in flames was investigated. It was observed that the H/O correlation decreases with pressure increase for both ammonia flames. N/O correlations decrease with elevated pressure for the ammonia-oxygen flame. Furthermore, the nitrogen (NII) spectral emission lines at 568 nm and 595 nm were used to estimate the plasma temperature, while the hydrogen (Hα) line at 656 nm was used for electron number density measurements.

The ∼50 Myr Old TOI-942c is Likely on an Aligned, Coplanar Orbit and Losing Mass

We report the observation of the transiting planet TOI-942c, a Neptunian planet orbiting a young K-type star approximately 50 Myr years old. Using the Keck/High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer, we observed a partial transit of the planet and detected an associated radial velocity anomaly. By modeling the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect, we derived a sky-projected obliquity of λ=24−14+14 degrees, indicating TOI-942c is in a prograde and likely aligned orbit. Upon incorporation of the star’s inclination and the planet’s orbital inclination, we determined a true obliquity for TOI-942c of ψ < 43° at 84% confidence, while dynamic analysis strongly suggests TOI-942c is aligned with stellar spin and coplanar with the inner planet. Furthermore, TOI-942c is also a suitable target for studying atmospheric loss of young Neptunian planets that are likely still contracting from the heat of formation. We observed a blueshifted excess absorption in the Hα line at 6564.7 Å, potentially indicating atmospheric loss due to photoevaporation. However, due to the lack of preingress data, additional observations are needed to confirm this measurement.

Physical Parameters and Magnetic Activity of M-type Stars Based on the LAMOST DR9, SDSS, and TESS Surveys

We analyze a catalog comprising 781,232 spectra from 641,095 M dwarf stars from the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) low-resolution spectroscopic data release 9. Based on the equivalent width of the Hα line, we ascertain the activity properties of the stars, identifying a total of 107,134 active stars, with 31,175 exhibiting Hα variations. Furthermore, we establish a positive correlation between starspot activity from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite light curves, and chromospheric activity observed through LAMOST spectra on M dwarf stars. Utilizing LAMOST and Gaia data, we map the two-dimensional distribution of active fractions across all M dwarfs in the Milky Way based on Hα and Hβ lines, confirming a decrease in the active fraction as the distance above the Galactic disk increases. Additionally, we investigate the relationship between chromospheric activity and absolute height above the Galactic disk in various M subtypes. Our findings reveal distinct trends: for M0 to M5 dwarf stars, the active fraction of Hα and Hβ lines rapidly decreases within the 0–300 pc range. In the 300–500 pc range, M0 to M4 dwarf stars exhibit a gradual increase, followed by a decrease in the 500–1000 pc range. Conversely, M5 dwarf stars show no significant gradual increase in the 300–500 pc range and decrease in the 500–1000 pc range. More data will be needed to confirm the phenomenon.

Discovery of ~2200 new supernova remnants in 19 nearby star-forming galaxies with MUSE spectroscopy

Supernova feedback injects energy and turbulence into the interstellar medium (ISM) in galaxies, influences the process of star formation, and is essential to understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies. In this paper we present the largest extragalactic survey of supernova remnant (SNR) candidates in nearby star-forming galaxies using exquisite spectroscopic maps from MUSE. Supernova remnants (SNRs) exhibit distinctive emission-line ratios and kinematic signatures, which are apparent in optical spectroscopy. Using optical integral field spectra from the PHANGS–MUSE project, we identified SNRs in 19 nearby galaxies at ~100 pc scales. We used five different optical diagnostics: (1) line ratio maps of [S II]/Hα (2) line ratio maps of [O I]/Hα (3) velocity dispersion map of the gas; and (4) and (5) two line ratio diagnostic diagrams from Baldwin, Phillips &amp; Terlevich (BPT) diagrams to identify and distinguish SNRs from other nebulae. Given that our SNRs are seen in projection against H II regions and diffuse ionized gas, in our line ratio maps we used a novel technique to search for objects with [S II]/Hα or [O I]/Hα in excess of what is expected at fixed Hα surface brightness within photoionized gas. In total, we identified 2233 objects using at least one of our diagnostics, and defined a subsample of 1166 high-confidence SNRs that were detected with at least two diagnostics. The line ratios of these SNRs agree well with the MAPPINGS shock models, and we validate our technique using the well-studied nearby galaxy M83, where all the SNRs we found are also identified in literature catalogs, and we recovered 51% of the known SNRs. The remaining 1067 objects in our sample were detected with only one diagnostic, and we classified them as SNR candidates. We find that ~35% of all our objects overlap with the boundaries of H II regions from literature catalogs, highlighting the importance of using indicators beyond line intensity morphology to select SNRs. We find that the [O I]/Hα line ratio is responsible for selecting the most objects (1368; 61%); however, only half are classified as SNRs, demonstrating how the use of multiple diagnostics is key to increasing our sample size and improving our confidence in our SNR classifications.

A fast-filament eruption observed in the Hα spectral line

Context. Solar filament eruptions usually appear to occur in association with the sudden explosive release of magnetic energy accumulated in long-lived arched magnetic structures. The released energy occasionally drives fast-filament eruptions that can be the source regions of coronal mass ejections. A quantitative analysis of high-speed filament eruptions is thus essential to help elucidate the formation and early acceleration of coronal mass ejections. Aims. The goal of this paper is to investigate the dynamic processes of a fast-filament eruption by using unprecedented high-resolution full-disk Hα imaging spectroscopy observations. Methods. The whole process of the eruption was captured in a wide spectral window of the Hα line (±9.0 Å), which allowed for the detection of highly Doppler-shifted plasma. By applying the “cloud model” and obtaining two-dimensional optical thickness spectra, we derived the Doppler velocity; the true eruption profiles (height, velocity, and acceleration); and the trajectory of the filament eruption in 3D space. Results. The Doppler velocity maps show that the filament was predominantly blueshifted. During the main and final process of the eruption, strongly blueshifted materials manifest, traveling with velocities exceeding 250 km s−1. The spectral analysis further revealed that the erupting filament is made of multiple components, some of which were Doppler-shifted approximately to −300 km s−1. We found that the filament eruption attains a maximum true velocity and acceleration of about 600 km s−1 and 2.5 km s−2, respectively, and its propagation direction deviates from the radial direction. On the other hand, downflows manifested as redshifted plasma close to the footpoints of the erupting filament move with velocities of 45–125 km s−1. We interpret these redshifted signatures as draining material and therefore as mass loss of the filament, which has implications for the dynamic and the acceleration process of the eruption. Furthermore, we have estimated the total mass of the Hα filament, resulting in ∼5.4 × 1015 g.

Optical Continuum Reverberation Mapping of a Candidate IMBH in a Nearby Seyfert 1 Galaxy

To investigate the short-term variability and determine the size of the optical continuum emitting region of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs), we carried out high-cadence, multiband photometric monitoring of a Seyfert 1 galaxy J0249−0815 across two nights, together with a one-night single-band preliminary test. The presence of the broad Hα component in our target was confirmed by recent Palomar/P200 spectroscopic observations, 23 yr after the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, ruling out the supernovae origin of the broad Hα line. The photometric experiment was primarily conducted utilizing four-channel imagers MuSCAT 3 and 4 mounted on 2 m telescopes within the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network. Despite the expectation of variability, we observed no significant variation (<1.4%) on timescales of 6–10 hr. This nondetection is likely due to substantial host galaxy light diluting the subtle active galactic nucleus (AGN) variability. Additionally, we cannot rule out that the target was in a relatively quiescent state without intranight variability during our monitoring, owing to the stochastic nature of AGN variations. To enhance the possibility of detecting subtle variability signals and lag in future IMBH reverberation campaigns, it may be beneficial to select targets with a higher AGN-to-host flux ratio, and conduct dual-band preliminary tests and tailored simulations.

Stacking X-Ray Observations of “Little Red Dots”: Implications for Their Active Galactic Nucleus Properties

Recent James Webb Space Telescope observations have revealed a population of compact extragalactic objects at z ≳ 4 with red near-infrared colors, which have been dubbed as “Little Red Dots” (LRDs). The spectroscopically selected LRDs exhibit broad Hα emission lines, which likely indicate that type I active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are harbored in the galaxies’ dust-reddened cores. However, other mechanisms, like strong outflowing winds, could also produce broad Hα emission lines, and thus, the nature of LRDs is still under debate. We test the AGN hypothesis for LRDs by stacking the archival Chandra observations of 34 spectroscopically selected LRDs. We obtain tentative detections in the soft (0.5–2 keV) and hard (2–8 keV) X-ray bands with 2.9σ and 3.2σ significance, and with 4.1σ significance when combining the two bands. Nevertheless, we find that the soft (hard) band 3σ upper limit is ∼1 dex (∼0.3 dex) lower than the expected level from the L X–L Hα relation for typical type I AGNs. Our results indicate that AGN activity is indeed likely present in LRDs though these objects have significantly different properties compared to previously identified type I AGNs, i.e., LRDs may have intrinsically weak X-ray emissions. We find it difficult to explain the low L X/L Hα ratios observed in LRDs solely by absorption. It is also unlikely that fast outflows have major contributions to the broad Hα lines. Our findings indicate that empirical relations (e.g., for black hole mass measurements) established for typical type I AGNs should be used with caution when analyzing the properties of LRDs.

High-resolution Imaging Spectroscopy of a Tiny Sigmoidal Minifilament Eruption

Minifilament eruptions producing small jets and microflares have mostly been studied based on coronal observations at extreme-ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths. This study presents chromospheric plasma diagnostics of a quiet-Sun minifilament of size ∼ 2″ × 5″ with a sigmoidal shape and an associated microflare observed on 2021 August 7 17:00 UT using high temporal and spatial resolution spectroscopy from the Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph (FISS) and high-resolution magnetograms from the Near InfraRed Imaging Spectropolarimeter (NIRIS) installed on the 1.6 m Goode Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory. Using FISS Hα and Ca ii 8542 Å line spectra at the time of the minifilament activation we determined a temperature of 8600 K and a nonthermal speed of 7.9 km s−1. During the eruption, the minifilament was no longer visible in the Ca ii 8542 Å line, and only the Hα line spectra were used to find the temperature of the minifilament, which reached 1.2 × 104 K and decreased afterward. We estimated thermal energy of 3.6 × 1024 erg from the maximum temperature and kinetic energy of 2.6 × 1024 erg from the rising speed (18 km s−1) of the minifilament. From the NIRIS magnetograms we found small-scale flux emergence and cancellation coincident with the minifilament eruption, and the magnetic energy change across the conjugate footpoints reaches 7.2 × 1025 erg. Such spectroscopic diagnostics of the chromospheric minifilament complement earlier studies of minifilament eruptions made using coronal images.

Exact stark analytical function for Hα line based on the FFM model related with plasma parameters

Optical Emission Spectroscopy is a widely used technique for plasma diagnosis, with particular interest in hydrogen atomic emission due to its prevalence in plasmas. However, accurately determining plasma parameters like electron density, electron temperature, and gas temperature starting from the experimental profiles remains a challenge. This paper introduces a comprehensive model for Stark broadening of the Hα line in a wide range of plasma conditions, addressing the limitations of existing analytical expressions for line shapes. The proposed model encompasses the full splitting of the transition into fifteen Lorentzian profiles and electric micro-field fluctuations surrounding the emitting atoms due to collisions with charged particles. Starting from accurate spectral data obtained from realistic computer simulations, fitting parameters of the model, have been obtained by using an optimization method based on a genetic algorithm. The set of parameters of the model are reported for a wide range of plasma conditions. The behavior of these parameters is analyzed to understand their dependence in terms of the electron density and temperature and gas density of the plasma. The model parameters here obtained constitute a useful tool in plasma diagnosis to obtaining the values of the physical parameters of the plasma starting from the experimental profiles.

Resolving studies of Balmer alpha lines relevant to the LIBS analysis of hydrogen isotope retention

Utilizing Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for detecting deuterium and tritium retention in fusion devices poses a significant challenge due to the experimental limitations in resolving hydrogen isotope Balmer alpha lines (Hα, Dα, and Tα). This study utilizes the Rayleigh criterion to distinguish Tα and Dα lines by determining the maximum line widths and corresponding plasma parameters. Experimental validation was performed through LIBS analysis of heavy water-doped graphite/silica gel targets in both argon and helium atmospheres to assess the predicted plasma parameters and line profile shapes. The optimization of laser pulse energy, gas pressure, delay, and gate times aimed at achieving fully resolved lines based on the intensity, width, and the dip between deuterium and hydrogen Balmer alpha lines. By fine-tuning these experimental parameters, the study successfully achieved a dip of less than 10 % between the Hα and Dα lines with a satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio, demonstrating the feasibility of fully resolving the Tα and Dα lines. These findings underscore the potential of LIBS in enhancing the detection of deuterium and tritium retention in fusion devices.