Active Region Model Research Articles

A Model of Solar X-ray Bright Points and Ephemeral Active Regions

Solar ephemeral active regions may provide a larger amount of emerging magnetic flux than the active regions themselves, and the origin and disposal of this flux pose problems. The related X-ray bright points are a major feature of coronal dynamics, and the two phenomena may entail a revision of our ideas of the activity cycle. A new large-scale subsurface magnetic field system has been suggested, but it is shown that such a system is neither plausible nor necessary. The emerging magnetic bipoles merely represent loops in pre-existing vertical flux tubes which are parts of active regions or the remnants of active regions. These loops result from the kink (or helical) instability in a twisted flux tube. Their observed properties are explained in terms of the flux-rope theory of solar fields. The model is extended to some dynamical effects in emerging loops. Further observations of ephemeral active regions may provide important tests between the traditional and flux-rope theories of solar magnetic fields.

Photospheric models of solar active regions and the network based on the MG II H and K line wings

From a comparison between observed and computed wings of the Mg II resonance lines, distributions of temperature versus mass column density for solar photospheric layers in plages and in the chromospheric network are derived. The theoretical profiles are computed assuming partial coherent scattering. In the active regions, temperatures exceed those in the quiet sun by up to 200 K near the temperature minimum and up to 400 K in deeper layers. In the observed network structure, the temperature is enhanced by 200 K at the temperature minimum but is the same as that in the quiet sun at greater depths. The difference in the slope of the temperature distribution between the network and plages is real, but may refer only to long elements of the network rather than to the brightest portions. Adjacent to the network is a region in which the temperatures are similar to those in the quiet sun, except immediately below the temperature minimum, where the temperatures are depressed by 150 K.

Bifurcation of force-free solar magnetic fields: A numerical approach

Numerical calculations of two-dimensional force-free fields as models of solar active regions are presented. For a given ‘toroidal’ component of the photospheric magnetic field two branches of solutions are numerically obtained which merge at the critical point of maximum allowed toroidal magnetic field. Depending on boundary conditions magnetic islands may or may not form. The results are discussed with respect to their relevance to the flare process.

The analysis of a high resolution X-ray spectrum of a solar active region

Absolute intensities and wavelengths for 98 X-ray emission lines between 9 and 22.5 A are reported. The active region spectra were obtained with three rocket-borne crystal spectrometers. Identifications are proposed for 62 of the lines and a model of the emitting plasma is constructed from the intensities of the strongest lines. The emission measure (N e 2 V) of the model peaks at 3 × 106 K with a value of 1.5 × 1047 cm−3 and decreases to 1046 cm−3 at 5 × 106 K. Effective oscill and collision strengths are calculated for the other transitions that are observed. The relative intensities of O viii and Ne ix give an oxygen : neon abundance ratio of 8 ∶ 1. The intensities of the satellite lines to helium-like lines are investigated and it is shown that these lines can be used with confidence in constructing active region models.

A study of solar radio emission in the light of Sengupta's model of coronal active regions

Daily solar radio flux at six different frequencies in dm, cm and mm wavelength regions has been studied for 182 days from December 1, 1970 to May 30, 1971. It is found that the slowly varying component of the centimeter wave emission correlates well with the physical model of the coronal active regions derived by Sengupta (Sengupta, 1971b) from which, as he showed earlier, most of the solar soft X-rays of wavelength less than 20 A comes. It is also found that the cm wave emission is consistent with the assumption that the emitting regions are optically thin in this wavelength range.

Models of Active Regions in the Transition Zone from UV Observations

The Harvard College Observatory UV spectroheliometer aboard the OSO-4 spacecraft has obtained the enhancement of active regions, i.e. the ratio of their intensity to that of the quiet Sun Ia and Iq, for several lines formed in the transition region between the solar chromosphere and the corona (The subscripts a an q indicate active and quiet regions, respectively.)

Models of active regions in the transition zone from UV observations

Models of active regions in the transition zone from UV observations

X-ray observations of solar active regions from OSO-5

Observations of solar active regions by a grazing incidence X-ray telescope on board OSO-5 are reported. The evolution of the hot, coronal components of active regions have been studied during successive rotations across the solar disc. In particular, it is found that the X-ray emission is very dependent on the photospheric magnetic field. Models of active regions are constructed as a function of the underlying magnetic field.

Extreme ultraviolet observations of active regions in the chromosphere and the corona

New observations of solar active regions have been obtained by the Harvard College Observatory EUV spectroheliometer aboard the OSO-IV spacecraft. From the observations we have determined the enhancement in active regions of the emission from ions formed at various temperatures in the chromosphere and corona. The results are in accord with a simple model of active regions, for which the active region pressure is about 5 times the quiet sun pressure; the temperature gradient in the transition zone is about 5 times the quiet sun value; and the coronal temperature above active regions is slightly increased.

Radio observation of the solar eclipse of May 20, 1966

The eclipse of May 20, 1966 was observed at the wavelengths of 3.2 and 9.1 cm by three Arcetri expeditions. The curves obtained by deriving the occultation curves have been filtered by digital techniques to cut off high frequency noise; by them, many characteristics of three sources of the S-component present on the disk have been studied: temperature, dimensions, emitted flux and brightness distribution. Isophotes of the latter are compared with isophotes of the corresponding Hα plages for two sources: a close similarity results for one of them. Moreover it is shown that: (a) the height above the photosphere of the sources at λ = 9.1 cm is greater than that of the sources at λ = 3.2 cm; (b) the maximum of the radio emission is not always placed exactly above a sunspot or above the sunspot group barycentre. Fitting the observed brightness temperatures, as frequency functions, by a power law and using a temperature model of an active region, the electron density distribution can be deduced. The obtained electron density distributions are compared with various models of active regions.