Nonthermal Electron Density Research Articles

Constraining the average magnetic field in galaxy clusters with current and upcoming CMB surveys

Galaxy clusters that host radio halos indicate the presence of population(s) of non-thermal electrons. These electrons can scatter low-energy photons of the Cosmic Microwave Background, resulting in the non-thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich (ntSZ) effect. We measure the average ntSZ signal from 62 radio-halo hosting clusters using the Planck multi-frequency all-sky maps. We find no direct evidence of the ntSZ signal in the Planck data. Combining the upper limits on the non-thermal electron density with the average measured synchrotron power collected from the literature, we place lower limits on the average magnetic field strength in our sample. The lower limit on the volume-averaged magnetic field is 0.01–0.24 μG, depending on the assumed power-law distribution of electron energies. We further explore the potential improvement of these constraints from the upcoming Simons Observatory and Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST) of the CCAT-prime collaboration. We find that combining these two experiments, the constraints will improve by a factor oftwo, which can be sufficient to rule out some power-law models.

The Efficiency of Electron Acceleration during the Impulsive Phase of a Solar Flare

Solar flares are known to be prolific electron accelerators, yet identifying the mechanism(s) for such efficient electron acceleration in solar flare (and similar astrophysical settings) presents a major challenge. This is due in part to a lack of observational constraints related to conditions in the primary acceleration region itself. Accelerated electrons with energies above ∼20 keV are revealed by hard X-ray (HXR) bremsstrahlung emission, while accelerated electrons with even higher energies manifest themselves through radio gyrosynchrotron emission. Here, we show, for a well-observed flare on 2017 September 10, that a combination of RHESSI HXR and and the Solar Dynamics Observatory/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (SDO/AIA) EUV observations provides a robust estimate of the fraction of the ambient electron population that is accelerated at a given time, with an upper limit of ≲10−2 on the number density of nonthermal (≥20 keV) electrons, expressed as a fraction of the number density of ambient protons in the same volume. This upper limit is about 2 orders of magnitude lower than previously inferred from microwave observations of the same event. Our results strongly indicate that the fraction of accelerated electrons in the coronal region at any given time is relatively small but also that the overall duration of the HXR emission requires a steady resupply of electrons to the acceleration site. Simultaneous measurements of the instantaneous accelerated electron number density and the associated specific electron acceleration rate provide key constraints for a quantitative study of the mechanisms leading to electron acceleration in magnetic reconnection events.

Non-thermal Electron Energization During the Impulsive Phase of an X9.3 Flare Revealed by Insight-HXMT

Abstract The X9.3 flare SOL20170906T11:55 was observed by the CsI detector aboard the first Chinese X-ray observatory Hard X-ray Modulation telescope (Insight-HXMT). Using the wavelets method, we report 22 s quasiperiodic pulsations during the impulsive phase. The spectra from 100 keV to 800 keV show the evolution with the gamma-ray flux of a power-law photon index from ∼1.8 before the peak, ∼2.0 around the flare peak, to ∼1.8 again. The gyrosynchrotron microwave spectral analysis reveals a 36.″6 ± 0.″6 radius gyrosynchrotron source with mean transverse magnetic field around 608.2 Gauss. The penetrated ≥10 keV non-thermal electron density is about 106.7 cm−3 at peak time. The magnetic field strength followed the evolution of high-frequency radio flux. Further gyrosynchrotron source modeling analysis implies that there exists a quite steady gyrosynchrotron source, and the non-thermal electron density and transverse magnetic field evolution are similar to higher-frequency light curves. The temporal spectral analysis reveals that those non-thermal electrons are accelerated by repeated magnetic reconnection, likely from a lower corona source.

Estimate of pre-thermal quench non-thermal electron density profile during Ar pellet shutdowns of low-density target plasmas in DIII-D

The radial density profile of pre-thermal quench (pre-TQ) early-time non-thermal (hot) electrons is estimated by combining electron cyclotron emission and soft x-ray data during the rapid shutdown of low-density (ne≲1019 m−3) DIII-D target plasmas with cryogenic argon pellet injection. This technique is mostly limited in these experiments to the pre-TQ phase and quickly loses validity during the TQ. Two different cases are studied: a high (10 keV) temperature target and a low (4 keV) temperature target. The results indicate that early-time, low-energy (∼10 keV) hot electrons form ahead of the argon pellet as it enters the plasma, affecting the pellet ablation rate; it is hypothesized that this may be caused by rapid cross field transport of argon ions ahead of the pellet or by rapid cross field transport of hot electrons. Fokker–Planck modeling of the two shots suggests that the hot electron current is quite significant during the pre-TQ phase (up to 50% of the total current). Comparison between modeled pre-TQ hot electron current and post-TQ hot electron current inferred from avalanche theory suggests that hot electron current increases during the high-temperature target TQ but decreases during the low-temperature target TQ. The uncertainties in this estimate are large; however, if true, this suggests that TQ radial loss of hot electron current could be larger than previously estimated in DIII-D.

Modeling Mg ii h, k and Triplet Lines at Solar Flare Ribbons

Abstract Observations from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph often reveal significantly broadened and non-reversed profiles of the Mg ii h, k and triplet lines at flare ribbons. To understand the formation of these optically thick Mg ii lines, we perform plane-parallel radiative hydrodynamics modeling with the RADYN code, and then recalculate the Mg ii line profiles from RADYN atmosphere snapshots using the radiative transfer code RH. We find that the current RH code significantly underestimates the Mg ii h and k Stark widths. By implementing semiclassical perturbation approximation results of quadratic Stark broadening from the STARK-B database in the RH code, the Stark broadenings are found to be one order of magnitude larger than those calculated from the current RH code. However, the improved Stark widths are still too small, and another factor of 30 has to be multiplied to reproduce the significantly broadened lines and adjacent continuum seen in observations. Nonthermal electrons, magnetic fields, three-dimensional effects, or electron density effects may account for this factor. Without modifying the RADYN atmosphere, we have also reproduced non-reversed Mg ii h and k profiles, which appear when the electron beam energy flux is decreasing. These profiles are formed at an electron density of ∼8 × 1014 cm−3 and a temperature of ∼1.4 × 104 K, where the source function slightly deviates from the Planck function. Our investigation also demonstrates that at flare ribbons the triplet lines are formed in the upper chromosphere, close to the formation heights of the h and k lines.

Estimation of a coronal mass ejection magnetic field strength using radio observations of gyrosynchrotron radiation

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large eruptions of plasma and magnetic field from the low solar corona into interplanetary space. These eruptions are often associated with the acceleration of energetic electrons which produce various sources of high intensity plasma emission. In relatively rare cases, the energetic electrons may also produce gyrosynchrotron emission from within the CME itself, allowing for a diagnostic of the CME magnetic field strength. Such a magnetic field diagnostic is important for evaluating the total magnetic energy content of the CME, which is ultimately what drives the eruption. Here, we report on an unusually large source of gyrosynchrotron radiation in the form of a type IV radio burst associated with a CME occurring on 2014-September-01, observed using instrumentation from the Nançay Radio Astronomy Facility. A combination of spectral flux density measurements from the Nançay instruments and the Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN) from 300 MHz to 5 GHz reveals a gyrosynchrotron spectrum with a peak flux density at ~1 GHz. Using this radio analysis, a model for gyrosynchrotron radiation, a non-thermal electron density diagnostic using the Fermi Gamma Ray Burst Monitor (GBM) and images of the eruption from the GOES Soft X-ray Imager (SXI), we were able to calculate both the magnetic field strength and the properties of the X-ray and radio emitting energetic electrons within the CME. We find the radio emission is produced by non-thermal electrons of energies >1 MeV with a spectral index of δ ~ 3 in a CME magnetic field of 4.4 G at a height of 1.3 R⊙, while the X-ray emission is produced from a similar distribution of electrons but with much lower energies on the order of 10 keV. We conclude by comparing the electron distribution characteristics derived from both X-ray and radio and show how such an analysis can be used to define the plasma and bulk properties of a CME.

Role of nonthermal electron on the dynamics of relativistic electromagnetic soliton in the interaction of laser-plasma

A system of nonlinear one-dimensional equations of the electron hydrodynamics with Maxwell's equations was developed to describe electromagnetic (EM) solitons in plasma with nonthermal electrons. Equation of vector potential was derived in relativistic regime by implementing the multiple scales technique, and their solitonic answers were introduced. The allowed regions for bright and dark electromagnetic solitons were discussed in detail. Roles of number density of nonthermal electrons, temperature of electrons, and frequency of fast participate of vector potential on the Sagdeev potential and properties of EM soliton were investigated. Results show that with increasing the number of nonthermal electrons, the amplitude of vector potential of bright solitons increases. By increasing the number of nonthermal electrons, dark EM solitons may be changed to bright solitons. Increasing the energy of nonthermal electrons leads to generation of high amplitude solitons.

ATTENUATION OF CORONAL MAGNETIC FIELDS IN SOLAR MICROWAVE BURSTS

Based on the observed data by the Nobeyama Radio Observatory and the nonthermal gyrosynchrotron theory, the calculated magnetic field in a loop-like radio source of the 2001 October 23 flare attenuates from hundreds to tens of Gauss,. except in the region with very weak magnetic fields. Meanwhile, the viewing angle between the magnetic field and line of sight has a similar attenuation from tens to around ten degrees, implying that the transverse magnetic component attenuates much faster than the longitudinal one. All of these results can be understood by the magnetic energy release process in solar flares. Moreover, the column density of nonthermal electrons decreases from 109-10 to 107-8 cm(-2) during the flare, except in the region with very weak magnetic fields, where its value is larger than that with strong magnetic fields due to the mirroring effect. The calculated error and harmonic number of gyrofrequency better suit the region with strong magnetic fields.

Stopping frequency of type III solar radio bursts in expanding magnetic flux tubes

Understanding the properties of type III radio bursts in the solar corona and interplanetary space is one of the best ways to remotely deduce the characteristics of solar accelerated electron beams and the solar wind plasma. One feature of all type III bursts is the lowest frequency they reach (or stopping frequency). This feature reflects the distance from the Sun that an electron beam can drive the observable plasma emission mechanism. The stopping frequency has never been systematically studied before from a theoretical perspective. Using numerical kinetic simulations, we explore the different parameters that dictate how far an electron beam can travel before it stops inducing a significant level of Langmuir waves, responsible for plasma radio emission. We use the quasilinear approach to model self-consistently the resonant interaction between electrons and Langmuir waves in inhomogeneous plasma, and take into consideration the expansion of the guiding magnetic flux tube and the turbulent density of the interplanetary medium. We find that the rate of radial expansion has a significant effect on the distance an electron beam travels before enhanced leves of Langmuir waves, and hence radio waves, cease. Radial expansion of the guiding magnetic flux tube rarefies the electron stream to the extent that the density of non-thermal electrons is too low to drive Langmuir wave production. The initial conditions of the electron beam have a significant effect, where decreasing the beam density or increasing the spectral index of injected electrons would cause higher type III stopping frequencies. We also demonstrate how the intensity of large-scale density fluctuations increases the highest frequency that Langmuir waves can be driven by the beam and how the magnetic field geometry can be the cause of type III bursts only observed at high coronal frequencies.

Disturbances of Solar Eruption from Active Region AR1613

The paper describes an investigation of the solar radio bursts of spectral type III due to disturbances of the active region AR 1613. A solar flare occurred on 2012 November 15, between 2:00 UT to 3:30 UT. The sequence images from a burst from our site revealed that although the solar flare is considered moderate, it is still possible to obtain the solar burst type III in a single and group forms within one and half hour. It can easily produce misleading results in terms of non-thermal electron density and magnetic field strength. The burst is originated in the same active region of the solar corona. The C-6 level enhancement was detected in GOES 1.8 a soft X-ray. Based on the results, we suggest that radio wave source motion manifests the displacement of particle sites caused by plasma eruptions. Time variability in the emission may due to the changes in the electron density. The group and individual solar burst type III can be related to the distance travelled before an electron beam becomes unstable to Langmuir waves. In conclusion, the interactions non-thermal electron and magnetic trapping can influence the transporting of electrons and this is still a subject of interest of intense investigation.

Disturbances of Solar Eruption from Active Region AR1613

The paper describes an investigation of the solar radio bursts of spectral type III due to disturbances of the active region AR 1613. A solar flare occurred on 2012 November 15, between 2:00 UT to 3:30 UT. The sequence images from a burst from our site revealed that although the solar flare is considered moderate, it is still possible to obtain the solar burst type III in a single and group forms within one and half hour. It can easily produce misleading results in terms of non-thermal electron density and magnetic field strength. The burst is originated in the same active region of the solar corona. The C-6 level enhancement was detected in GOES 1.8 a soft X-ray. Based on the results, we suggest that radio wave source motion manifests the displacement of particle sites caused by plasma eruptions. Time variability in the emission may due to the changes in the electron density. The group and individual solar burst type III can be related to the distance travelled before an electron beam becomes unstable to Langmuir waves. In conclusion, the interactions non-thermal electron and magnetic trapping can influence the transporting of electrons and this is still a subject of interest of intense investigation.

RADIO IMAGING OF A TYPE IVM RADIO BURST ON THE 14TH OF AUGUST 2010

Propagating coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are often accompanied by burst signatures in radio spectrogram data. We present Nancay Radioheliograph observations of a moving source of broadband radio emission, commonly referred to as a type IV radio burst (type IVM), which occurred in association with a CME on the 14th of August 2010. The event was well observed at extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths by SDO/AIA and PROBA2/SWAP, and by the STEREO SECCHI and SOHO LASCO white light (WL) coronagraphs. The EUV and WL observations show the type IVM source to be cospatial with the CME core. The observed spectra is well fitted by a power law with a negative slope, which is consistent with optically thin gyrosynchrotron emission. The spectrum shows no turn over at the lowest Nancay frequencies. By comparing simulated gyrosynchrotron spectra with Nancay Radioheliograph observations, and performing a rigorous parameter search we are able to constrain several key parameters of the underlying plasma. Simulated spectra found to fit the data suggest a nonthermal electron distribution with a low energy cutoff of several tens to 100 keV, with a nonthermal electron density in the range 100-102 cm–3, in a magnetic field of a few Gauss. The nonthermal energy content of the source is found to contain 0.001%-0.1% of the sources thermal energy content. Furthermore, the energy loss timescale for this distribution equates to several hours, suggesting that the electrons could be accelerated during the CME initiation or early propagation phase and become trapped in the magnetic structure of the CME core without the need to be replenished.

PARTICLE DENSITIES WITHIN THE ACCELERATION REGION OF A SOLAR FLARE

The limb flare SOL2012-07-19T05:58 (M7.7) provides the best example of a non-thermal above-the-loop-top hard X-ray source with simultaneous observations by the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory. By combining the two sets of observations, we present the first direct measurement of the thermal proton density and non-thermal electron density within the above-the-loop-top source where particle acceleration occurs. We find that both densities are of the same order of magnitude of a few times 109 cm–3, about 30 times lower than the density in the underlying thermal flare loops. The equal densities indicate that the entire electron population within the above-the-loop-top source is energized. While the derived densities depend on the unknown source depth and filling factor, the ratio of these two densities does not. Within the uncertainties, the ratio is one for a low energy cutoff of the non-thermal electron spectrum between 10 and 15 keV. RHESSI observations only constrain the cutoff energy to below ~15 keV, leaving the spectral shape of the electrons within the above-the-loop-top source at lower energies unknown. Nevertheless, these robust results strongly corroborate earlier findings that the above-the-loop-top source is the acceleration region where a bulk energization process acts on all electrons.

Solar Burst Analysis with 3D Loop Models

Abstract A sample of Nobeyama flares was selected and analyzed using a loop model for important flare parameters. The model for the flaring region consists of a three-dimensional dipolar magnetic field, and spatial distributions of nonthermal electrons. We constructed a database by calculating the flare microwave emission for a wide range of these parameters. Out of this database with more than 5000 cases, we extracted general flare properties by comparing the observed and calculated microwave spectra. The analysis of the Nobeyama Radio Polarimeter data was mostly based on the center-to-limb variation of the flare properties with looptop and footpoint electron distributions, and for the Nobeyama Radioheliograph maps on the resultant distribution of emission. One important aspect of this work is a comparison of the analysis of a flare using an inhomogeneous source model and a simplistic homogeneous source model. Our results clearly show that the homogeneous source hypothesis is not appropriate to describe the possible flare geometry, and its use can easily produce misleading results in terms of non-thermal electron density and magnetic field strength. A center darkening of flares was also obtained as a geometrical property of the loop-like sources.

The calculation of coronal magnetic field and density of nonthermal electrons in the 2003 October 27 microwave burst

Based on Dulk and Marsh's approximate theory about nonthermal gyrosynchrotron radiation, one simple impulsive microwave burst with a loop-like structure is selected for radio diagnostics of the coronal magnetic field and column density of nonthermal electrons, which are calculated from the brightness temperature, polarization degree, and spectral index, as well as the turnover frequency, observed by using the Nobeyama Radioheliograph and the Nobeyama Radio Polarimeters, respectively. Very strong variations (up to one or two orders of magnitude) of the calculated transverse and longitudinal magnetic fields with respect to the line-of-sight, as well as the calculated electron column density, appear in the looptop and footpoint sources during the burst. The absolute magnitude and varied range of the transverse magnetic field are evidently larger than those of the longitudinal magnetic field. The time evolution of the transverse magnetic field is always anti-correlated with that of the longitudinal magnetic field, but positively correlated with that of the electron column density. These results strongly support the idea that quantifying the energy released in a flare depends on a reconstruction of the coronal magnetic field, especially for the transverse magnetic field, and they are basically consistent with the recent theoretical and observational studies on the photospheric magnetic field in solar flares.

HST/STIS observations and simulation of Io’s emission spectrum in Jupiter shadow: Probing Io’s Jupiter-facing eclipse atmosphere

We report the detection of SO2 emission from Io in Jupiter’s shadow, peaking near 26 Rayleigh/Å around 3150Å, and emission from its associated excitation–dissociation products, SO in the 2550Å band and S I in the 1800 and 1900Å multiplets. In addition, an unidentified emission spectrum was discovered between ∼4100Å and ∼5700Å, which appears to be a vibronic band. Its spectral lines are listed in neither the GEISA nor HITRAN database. The line spacing and wavelength regime are characteristic of molecular bending modes, which would imply a molecule with three or more atoms; e.g., SO2 or S2O. Alternative candidates for this species are positive or negative ions of SO2 and its daughter species. The wavelength-averaged intensity of this unidentified species is bracketed by intensities imaged through Galileo and Cassini filters when Io was in eclipse. Both the unidentified and SO2 emission are brighter on Io’s NE half (in the Jovian system), which is the side closer to Jupiter, but the unidentified emission is more asymmetric, suggesting a connection with Io’s wake emission or with volcanic activity. Weakening of the emission intensity between the early eclipse-resolved spectra indicate partial atmospheric collapse due to freezeout of the atmospheric column and the decay of energetic photoelectrons. Specific plume activity is not well constrained through examination of the disk-averaged mid-ultraviolet (MUV) emission spectrum. Simulating the observations using laboratory data published for the electron impact cross sections of SO2 indicates that this emission is consistent with dissociative excitation of SO2 by thermal electrons in the Jovian plasma torus plus a minor non-thermal electron component. Owing to uncertainty in the density and mean energy of non-thermal electrons, the observations are insufficiently constrained to extract the temperature of the upstream electrons. Without any non-thermal electrons, the best fit upstream electron temperature is ∼10eV; however, prior observations found the Jovian torus thermal electron temperature near Io to be 4–6eV and thus a non-thermal component is required to reduce the best-fit simulated electron temperature. The upstream temperature of electrons mixed with a non-thermal component that produced agreement between the simulated and observed absolute peak intensities (at 2550Å and 3150Å) and their ratio, is Te=5–6eV with an accompanying non-thermal component of electrons that is 5% of the thermal density and has a mean electron energy of35eV.

Solitons and double-layers of electron-acoustic waves in magnetized plasma; an application to auroral zone plasma

A theoretical investigation is carried out for understanding the properties of electron-acoustic potential structures (i.e., solitary waves and double-layers) in a magnetized plasma whose constituents are a cold magnetized electron fluid, hot electrons obeying a nonthermal distribution, and stationary ions. For this purpose, the hydrodynamic equations for the cold magnetized electron fluid, nonthermal electron density distribution, and the Poisson equation are used to derive the corresponding nonlinear evolution equation; modified Zakharov–Kuznetsov (MZK) equation, in the small amplitude regime. The MZK equation is analyzed to examine the existence regions of the solitary pulses and double-layers. It is found that rarefactive electron-acoustic solitary waves and double-layers strongly depend on the density and temperature ratios of the hot-to-cold electron species as well as the nonthermal electron parameter.

Ion-acoustic double layers in magnetized positive-negative ion plasmas with nonthermal electrons

The nonlinear ion-acoustic double layers (IADLs) in a warm magnetoplasma with positive-negative ions and nonthermal electrons are investigated. For this purpose, the hydrodynamic equations for the positive-negative ions, nonthermal electron density distribution, and the Poisson equation are used to derive a modified Zakharov–Kuznetsov (MZK) equation, in the small amplitude regime. It is found that compressive and rarefactive IADLs strongly depend on the mass and density ratios of the negative-to-positive ions as well as the nonthermal electron parameter. Also, it is shown that there are one critical value for the density ratio of the negative-to-positive ions (ν), the ratio between unperturbed electron-to-positive ion density (μ), and the nonthermal electron parameter (β), which decide the existence of positive and negative IADLs. The present study is applied to examine the small amplitude nonlinear IADL excitations for the \((\mathrm{H}^{+}, \mathrm{O}_{2}^{-})\) and (H+,H−) plasmas, where they are found in the D- and F-regions of the Earth’s ionosphere. This investigation should be helpful in understanding the salient features of the nonlinear IADLs in either space or laboratory plasmas where two distinct groups of ions and non-Boltzmann distributed electrons are present.

COSMIC RAY DIFFUSION FRONTS IN THE VIRGO CLUSTER

The pair of large radio lobes in the Virgo cluster, each about 23 kpc in radius, have curiously sharp outer edges where the radio-synchrotron continuum flux declines abruptly. However, just adjacent to this sharp transition, the radio flux increases. This radio limb-brightening is observed over at least half of the perimeter of both lobes. We describe slowly propagating steady state diffusion fronts that explain these counterintuitive features. Because of the natural buoyancy of radio lobes, the magnetic field is largely tangent to the lobe boundary, an alignment that polarizes the radio emission and dramatically reduces the diffusion coefficient of relativistic electrons. As cosmic ray electrons diffuse slowly into the cluster gas, the local magnetic field and gas density are reduced as gas flows back toward the radio lobe. Radio emission peaks can occur because the synchrotron emissivity increases with magnetic field and then decreases with the density of non-thermal electrons. A detailed comparison of steady diffusion fronts with quantitative radio observations may reveal information about the spatial variation of magnetic fields and the diffusion coefficient of relativistic electrons. On larger scales, some reduction of the gas density inside the Virgo lobes due to cosmic ray pressure must occur and may be measurable. Such X-ray observations could reveal important information about the presence of otherwise unobservable non-thermal components such as relativistic electrons of low energy or proton cosmic rays.

THE MAGNETOSPHERE OF THE ULTRACOOL DWARF DENIS 1048–3956

Ultracool dwarfs, the least-massive contributors to the stellar mass function, exhibit striking magnetic properties that are inconsistent with trends for more massive stars. Here, we present the widest-band radio observations to date of an ultracool dwarf, DENIS-P J104814.9-395604, in four 2 GHz bandwidths between wavelengths of 1 cm and 10 cm. These data were obtained with the Australia Telescope Compact Array using the new Compact Array Broadband Backend instrument. We detected a stable negatively-sloped power-law spectrum in total intensity, with spectral index alpha=1.71+-0.09. Circular polarization fractions between 0.25 and 0.4 were found at the low-frequency end of our detection band. We interpret these results as indicative of gyrosynchrotron emission. We suggest that the radio emission originates from beyond the co-rotation radius, R_C, of the star. Adopting this model, we find R_C between 1.2-2.9 R_*, and a non-thermal electron density and magnetic field strength between 10^(5)-10^(7.2) cm^(-3) and 70-260 G respectively at R_C. The model accounts for the violation of the Guedel-Benz relation between X-ray and radio luminosities of low-mass stars by DENIS-P J104814.9-395604.