Electron Acceleration Site Research Articles

Energetic Electrons Accelerated and Trapped in a Magnetic Bottle above a Solar Flare Arcade

Where and how flares efficiently accelerate charged particles remains an unresolved question. Recent studies revealed that a “magnetic bottle” structure, which forms near the bottom of a large-scale reconnection current sheet above the flare arcade, is an excellent candidate for confining and accelerating charged particles. However, further understanding its role requires linking the various observational signatures to the underlying coupled plasma and particle processes. Here we present the first study combining multiwavelength observations with data-informed macroscopic magnetohydrodynamics and particle modeling in a realistic eruptive flare geometry. The presence of an above-the-loop-top magnetic bottle structure is strongly supported by the observations, which feature not only a local minimum of magnetic field strength but also abruptly slowing plasma downflows. It also coincides with a compact above-the-loop-top hard X-ray source and an extended microwave source that bestrides the flare arcade. Spatially resolved spectral analysis suggests that nonthermal electrons are highly concentrated in this region. Our model returns synthetic emission signatures that are well matched to the observations. The results suggest that the energetic electrons are strongly trapped in the magnetic bottle region due to turbulence, with only a small fraction managing to escape. The electrons are primarily accelerated by plasma compression and facilitated by a fast-mode termination shock via the Fermi mechanism. Our results provide concrete support for the magnetic bottle as the primary electron acceleration site in eruptive solar flares. They also offer new insights into understanding the previously reported small population of flare-accelerated electrons entering interplanetary space.

Citizen Science Observation of a Gamma‐Ray Glow Associated With the Initiation of a Lightning Flash

AbstractGamma‐ray glows are observational evidence of relativistic electron acceleration due to the electric field in thunderclouds. However, it is yet to be understood whether such relativistic electrons contribute to the initiation of lightning discharges. To tackle this question, we started the citizen science “Thundercloud Project,” where we map radiation measurements of glows from winter thunderclouds along Japan's sea coast area. We developed and deployed 58 compact gamma‐ray monitors at the end of 2021. On 30 December 2021, five monitors simultaneously detected a glow with its radiation distribution horizontally extending for 2 km. The glow terminated coinciding with a lightning flash at 04:08:34 JST, which was recorded by the two radio‐band lightning mapping systems, FALMA and DALMA. The initial discharges during the preliminary breakdown started above the glow, that is, in vicinity of the electron acceleration site. This result provides one example of possible connections between electron acceleration and lightning initiation.

Two-step Acceleration of Energetic Electrons at Magnetic Flux Ropes during Turbulent Reconnection

Energetic electrons have been frequently observed during magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail. The acceleration process of the energetic electrons is not fully understood. In this paper, we select for a detailed study a case of energetic electron acceleration from the earlier reported interval of turbulent magnetic reconnection in Earth’s magnetotail observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. We use the first-order Taylor expansion method to reconstruct the magnetic topology of electron acceleration sites from the data. We find that the energetic electron fluxes increase inside the flux rope forming in front of the magnetic pileup region. We show that the energetic electrons are produced by a two-step process where two different acceleration mechanisms are successively operating outside and inside the flux rope. First, the thermal electrons are energized in the field-aligned direction inside the magnetic pileup region owing to the Fermi mechanism forming a cigar-like distribution. Second, those energized electrons are further accelerated predominately antiparallel to the magnetic field direction by a parallel electric field inside the flux rope. Our findings provide information for a better understanding of the generation of energetic electrons during turbulent reconnection process.

Statistical Study of Release Time and Its Energy Dependence of In Situ Energetic Electrons in Impulsive Solar Flares

AbstractUsing the fraction velocity dispersion analysis method, it has been shown recently that in two impulsive solar energetic electron (SEE) events, the release times of near‐relativistic electrons at the Sun for outward‐propagating electrons are energy dependent and are delayed compared to those of the downward‐propagating electrons. In this work, we perform a statistical study of the release time and its energy dependence of near‐relativistic electrons in impulsive SEE events. We use in situ observations from the WIND spacecraft and remote hard X‐ray observations from the RHESSI and/or Fermi spacecraft. The difference in the release times between outward electrons and downward electrons for 29 events is obtained. In all events, the release of the outward‐propagating electrons is delayed from those precipitating downward. In 26 of the 29 events, the release times of outward‐propagating electrons also show clear energy dependence. In 15 of these 26 events, in situ electron data from more than five energy channels were available. The delay time as a function of energy for nine of these can be fitted by a form proposed by G. Li et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095138). The implication of this energy‐dependent release on the Magnetohydrodynamics turbulence property at the electron acceleration site is discussed.

Identifying the energy release site in a solar microflare with a jet

Context. One of the main science questions of the Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe missions deals with understanding how electrons in the lower solar corona are accelerated and how they subsequently access interplanetary space. Aims. We aim to investigate the electron acceleration and energy release sites as well as the manner in which accelerated electrons access the interplanetary space in the case of the SOL2021-02-18T18:05 event, a GOES A8 class microflare associated with a coronal jet. Methods. This study takes advantage of three different vantage points, Solar Orbiter, STEREO-A, and Earth, with observations drawn from eight different instruments, ranging from radio to X-ray. Multi-wavelength timing analysis combined with UV/EUV imagery and X-ray spectroscopy by Solar Orbiter/STIX (Spectrometer/Telescope for Imaging X-rays) is used to investigate the origin of the observed emission during different flare phases. Results. The event under investigation satisfies the classical picture of the onset time of the acceleration of electrons coinciding with the jet and the radio type III bursts. This microflare features prominent hard X-ray (HXR) nonthermal emission down to at least 10 keV and a spectrum that is much harder than usual for a microflare with γ = 2.9 ± 0.3. From Earth’s vantage point, the microflare is seen near the limb, revealing the coronal energy release site above the flare loop in EUV, which, from STIX spectroscopic analysis, turns out to be hot (i.e., at roughly the same temperature of the flare). Moreover, this region is moving toward higher altitudes over time (∼30 km s−1). During the flare, the same region spatially coincides with the origin of the coronal jet. Three-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic reconstructions of the propagating jet highlight that the ejected plasma moves along a curved trajectory. Conclusions. Within the framework of the interchange reconnection model, we conclude that the energy release site observed above-the-loop corresponds to the electron acceleration site, corroborating that interchange reconnection is a viable candidate for particle acceleration in the low corona on field lines open to interplanetary space.

Energetic Electron Distribution of the Coronal Acceleration Region: First Results from Joint Microwave and Hard X-Ray Imaging Spectroscopy

Abstract Nonthermal sources located above bright flare arcades, referred to as the “above-the-loop-top” sources, have been often suggested as the primary electron acceleration site in major solar flares. The X8.2 limb flare on 2017 September 10 features such an above-the-loop-top source, which was observed in both microwaves and hard X-rays (HXRs) by the Expanded Owens Valley Solar Array and the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager, respectively. By combining the microwave and HXR imaging spectroscopy observations with multifilter extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray imaging data, we derive the coronal magnetic field and energetic electron distribution of the source over a broad energy range from <10 keV up to ∼MeV during the early impulsive phase of the flare. The source has a strong magnetic field of over 800 G. The best-fit electron distribution consists of a thermal “core” from ∼25 MK plasma. A nonthermal power-law “tail” joins the thermal core at ∼16 keV with a spectral index of ∼3.6, which breaks down at above ∼160 keV to >6.0. Temporally resolved analysis suggests that the electron distribution above the break energy rapidly hardens with the spectral index decreasing from >20 to ∼6.0 within 20 s, or less than ∼10 Alfvén crossing times in the source. These results provide strong support for the above-the-loop-top source as the primary site where an ongoing bulk acceleration of energetic electrons is taking place very early in the flare energy release.

Decimetric Emission 500″ Away from a Flaring Site: Possible Scenarios from GMRT Solar Radio Observations

We present a study of decimetric radio activity, using the first high time cadence (0.5 s) images from the ${\textit{Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope}}$ (${\textit{GMRT}}$) at 610 MHz, associated with ${\textit{GOES}}$ C1.4 and M1.0 class solar flares, and a coronal mass ejection (CME) onset that occurred on 20 June 2015. The high spatial resolution images from ${\textit{GMRT}}$ show a strong radio source during the C1.4 flare, located ~500$''$ away from the flaring site with no corresponding bright footpoints or coronal features nearby. In contrast, however, strong radio sources are found near the flaring site during the M1.0 flare and around the CME onset time. Weak radio sources, located near the flaring site, are also found during the maximum of the C1.4 flare activity, which show a temporal association with metric type III bursts identified by the Solar Broadband Radio Spectrometer at Yunnan Astronomical Observatory. Based on a multi-wavelength analysis and magnetic potential field source surface extrapolations, we suggest that the source electrons of ${\textit{GMRT}}$ radio sources and metric type III bursts were originated from a common electron acceleration site. We also show that the strong ${\textit{GMRT}}$ radio source is generated by a coherent emission process and its apparent location far from the flaring site is possibly due to the wave-ducting effect.

RADIO DIAGNOSTICS OF ELECTRON ACCELERATION SITES DURING THE ERUPTION OF A FLUX ROPE IN THE SOLAR CORONA

ABSTRACT Electron acceleration in the solar corona is often associated with flares and the eruption of twisted magnetic structures known as flux ropes. However, the locations and mechanisms of such particle acceleration during the flare and eruption are still subject to much investigation. Observing the exact sites of particle acceleration can help confirm how the flare and eruption are initiated and how they evolve. Here we use the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly to analyze a flare and erupting flux rope on 2014 April 18, while observations from the Nançay Radio Astronomy Facility allow us to diagnose the sites of electron acceleration during the eruption. Our analysis shows evidence of a pre-formed flux rope that slowly rises and becomes destabilized at the time of a C-class flare, plasma jet, and the escape of ≳75 keV electrons from the rope center into the corona. As the eruption proceeds, continued acceleration of electrons with energies of ∼5 keV occurs above the flux rope for a period over 5 minutes. At the flare peak, one site of electron acceleration is located close to the flare site, while another is driven by the erupting flux rope into the corona at speeds of up to 400 km s−1. Energetic electrons then fill the erupting volume, eventually allowing the flux rope legs to be clearly imaged from radio sources at 150–445 MHz. Following the analysis of Joshi et al. (2015), we conclude that the sites of energetic electrons are consistent with flux rope eruption via a tether cutting or flux cancellation scenario inside a magnetic fan-spine structure. In total, our radio observations allow us to better understand the evolution of a flux rope eruption and its associated electron acceleration sites, from eruption initiation to propagation into the corona.

VALIDATION OF THE CORONAL THICK TARGET SOURCE MODEL

ABSTRACT We present detailed 3D modeling of a dense, coronal thick-target X-ray flare using the GX Simulator tool, photospheric magnetic measurements, and microwave imaging and spectroscopy data. The developed model offers a remarkable agreement between the synthesized and observed spectra and images in both X-ray and microwave domains, which validates the entire model. The flaring loop parameters are chosen to reproduce the emission measure, temperature, and the nonthermal electron distribution at low energies derived from the X-ray spectral fit, while the remaining parameters, unconstrained by the X-ray data, are selected such as to match the microwave images and total power spectra. The modeling suggests that the accelerated electrons are trapped in the coronal part of the flaring loop, but away from where the magnetic field is minimal, and, thus, demonstrates that the data are clearly inconsistent with electron magnetic trapping in the weak diffusion regime mediated by the Coulomb collisions. Thus, the modeling supports the interpretation of the coronal thick-target sources as sites of electron acceleration in flares and supplies us with a realistic 3D model with physical parameters of the acceleration region and flaring loop.

A tiny event producing an interplanetary type III burst

We investigate the conditions under which small scale energy release events in the low corona gave rise to strong interplanetary (IP) type III bursts. We analyze observations of three tiny events, detected by the Nan\c cay Radio Heliograph (NRH), two of which produced IP type IIIs. We took advantage of the NRH positioning information and of the high cadence of AIA/SDO data to identify the associated EUV emissions. We measured positions and time profiles of the metric and EUV sources. We found that the EUV events that produced IP type IIIs were located near a coronal hole boundary, while the one that did not was located in a closed magnetic field region. In all three cases tiny flaring loops were involved, without any associated mass eruption. In the best observed case the radio emission at the highest frequency (435 MHz) was displaced by ~55" with respect to the small flaring loop. The metric type III emission shows a complex structure in space and in time, indicative of multiple electron beams, despite the low intensity of the events. From the combined analysis of dynamic spectra and NRH images we derived the electron beam velocity as well as the height, ambient plasma temperature and density at the level of formation of the 160 MHz emission. From the analysis of the differential emission measure derived from the AIA images we found that the first evidence of energy release was at the footpoints and this was followed by the development of flaring loops and subsequent cooling. We conclude that even small energy release events can accelerate enough electrons to give rise to powerful IP type III bursts. The proximity of the electron acceleration site to open magnetic field lines facilitates the escape of the electrons into the interplanetary space. The offset between the site of energy release and the metric type III location warrants further investigation.

Formation of zebra pattern in low-frequency Jovian radio emission

We investigate the formation of zebra-like fine spectral structures (consisting of several parallel bands in the dynamic spectrum) in the Jovian broadband kilometric radiation; such radio bursts were observed by Cassini in 2000/2001. We assume that the emission is generated due to a plasma mechanism in the Io plasma torus. We have shown that the double plasma resonance effect (that was proposed earlier as a formation mechanism of the solar zebra patterns) is able to produce the observed spectral structures. The observed frequency drifts are caused, most likely, by the dynamics of the electron acceleration site. The required conditions in the emission source are discussed.

Solar flares and energetic particles

Solar flares are now observed at all wavelengths from γ-rays to decametre radio waves. They are commonly associated with efficient production of energetic particles at all energies. These particles play a major role in the active Sun because they contain a large amount of the energy released during flares. Energetic electrons and ions interact with the solar atmosphere and produce high-energy X-rays and γ-rays. Energetic particles can also escape to the corona and interplanetary medium, produce radio emissions (electrons) and may eventually reach the Earth's orbit. I shall review here the available information on energetic particles provided by X-ray/γ-ray observations, with particular emphasis on the results obtained recently by the mission Reuven Ramaty High-Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager. I shall also illustrate how radio observations contribute to our understanding of the electron acceleration sites and to our knowledge on the origin and propagation of energetic particles in the interplanetary medium. I shall finally briefly review some recent progress in the theories of particle acceleration in solar flares and comment on the still challenging issue of connecting particle acceleration processes to the topology of the complex magnetic structures present in the corona.

A Statistical Analysis of the Type-III Bursts in Centimeter and Decimeter Wavebands

A statistical analysis of the type-III bursts observed by the spectrographs in the ranges of 625∼1500MHz, 2600-3800MHz, and 5200-7600 MHz during the 23rd solar cycle (from 2000 July to 2004 September) is carried out. The distribution of the type-III bursts, and their durations, frequency drift rates, polarization degrees and frequency bandwidths are given in this paper. The results indicate that the average values of the frequency drift rates and frequency bandwidths increase with the frequency. The average values of the durations and polarization degrees are neither constant nor uniformly varied over a broad frequency range. Most of type-III bursts are distributed in the range from 625 to 3800MHz, and decrease with the frequency in number. This analysis shows that the places of electron acceleration and energy release are mainly in the decimetric range, and the characteristic of this frequency range is possibly related with the magnetic configuration at the decimeter wavelengths, as well as the electron acceleration in the magnetic reconnection site close to the main flare. However, there are also a considerable number of type-III bursts in the range of 5200-7600MHz, it means that the sites of electron acceleration are widely distributed in the coronal region. The radiation mechanisms of type-III bursts at the centimeter-decimeter wavelengths include most probably the coherent plasma radiation and the emission process of electron cyclotron maser.

MULTIWAVELENGTH OBSERVATION OF ELECTRON ACCELERATION IN THE 2006 DECEMBER 13 FLARE

We present a multi-wavelength observation of a solar flare occurring on 2006 December 13 with Hinode, RHESSI, and the Nobeyama Radio Observatory, to study the electron acceleration site and mechanism. The Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) on board Hinode observed elongated flare ribbons, and RHESSI observed double-footpoint hard X-ray (HXR) sources appearing in part of the ribbons. A photospheric vector magnetogram obtained from SOT reveals that the HXR sources are located at the region where horizontal magnetic fields change the direction. The region is interpreted as the footpoint of magnetic separatrix. Microwave images taken with the Nobeyama Radioheliograph show a loop structure connecting the HXR sources. The brighter parts of the microwave intensity are located between the top and footpoints of the loop. We consider these observations as an evidence of the electron acceleration near the magnetic separatrix and injection parallel to the field line.

Solar Radio Spikes in 2.6 – 3.8 GHz during the 13 December 2006 Event

On 13 December 2006, some unusual radio bursts in the range 2.6 – 3.8 GHz were observed during an X3.4 flare/CME event from 02:30 to 04:30 UT in active region NOAA 10930 (S06W27) with the digital spectrometers of the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC). During this event many spikes were detected with the high temporal resolution of 8 ms and high frequency resolution of 10 MHz. Many of them were found to have complex structures associated with other radio burst types. The new observational features may reflect certain emission signatures of the electron acceleration site. In this paper, we present the results of the analysis of the new observational features of the complex spikes. According to the observed properties of the spikes, we identify five classes. Their observational parameters, such as duration, bandwidth, and relative bandwidth, were determined. Most spikes had negative polarization, but spikes with positive polarization were observed during a short time interval and were identified as a separate class. Based on the analysis of observations with Hinode/SOT (Solar Optical Telescope) we suggest that the sources of the spikes with opposite polarizations were different. Combined observations of spikes and fiber bursts are used to estimate the magnetic field strength in the source.

Coronal signatures of accelerated electrons

Whereas hard X-rays, microwaves and gamma-rays trace flare accelerated electrons and ions interacting in the lowcorona and the chromosphere, imaging and spectral radio observations in the decimetric-dekametric domain provide signatures of non thermal electrons in the middle and upper corona. These latter radio observations, combined with X-ray, EUV and optical measurements, contain unique information on the various circumstances of electron acceleration whether they are associated with flares or not. In this paper we outline the results of multiwavelength studies which provide: (i) information on the magnetic structure at various spatial scales into which flare accelerated electrons are injected/accelerated and (ii) evidence for various sites of electron acceleration outside flares which are located in the corona at altitudes ranging typically from ∼ 0.1 to ∼ 1 R⊙ above the photosphere.

Radio evidence for electron acceleration in a cusp-like structure

In the spectrum of the type IV/II radio burst of 1994 July 18 we found a rare superposition of fast and slowly drifting features in the frequency range 100–300 MHz about 1 min before the onset of the shock induced meter wave type II burst. We take this as signatures of the passage of an MHD-like disturbance and the simultaneous injection of two contradirected electron beams. These beams are manifested as an ordinary type III burst and a reverse drift burst starting at the same frequency. Remarkably, the reverse drift burst is visible only due to its absorbtion trace in an underlying continuum patch. We argue that the superimposed burst features are emitted from a common source which covers the top of a closed magnetic field structure and the immediately superposed part (cusp) of the helmet streamer configuration. The radio source is situated immediately at the electron acceleration site.

The Crab Nebula's Cosmic-Ray Acceleration Zone Revealed

We analyze and discuss the geometrical and physical properties of the geometrically coherent, and the time-variable radio spectral index perturbations near the center of the Crab Nebula recently discovered by Bietenholz & Kronberg. Although the detailed explanation of the three-dimensional geometry of the a perturbations is not yet clear, we propose that they are the sites of electron acceleration by MHD waves. The MHD waves are also the cause of the isotropization of the plasma flow outside the inner emission hole at the Crab's center, and we show how the MHD turblence near the shock produces the observed spectral index, a α∼0 in the α-ridges, and a somewhat steeper spectrum further out in the supernova remnant, as is also observed

Energetics of a double flare on November 8, 1980

Here we complete an energy balance analysis of a double impulsive hard X-ray flare. From spatial observations, we deduce both flares probably occur in the same loop within the resolution of the data. For the first flare, the energy in the fast electrons (assuming a thick-target model) is comparable to the convective up-flow energy, suggesting that these are related successive modes of energy storage and transfer. The total energy lost through radiation and conduction, 2.0 × 1028 erg, is comparable to the energy in fast electrons 2.5 × 1028 erg. For the second flare, the energy in the fast electrons is more than one order of magnitude greater than the energy of the convective up-flow. Total energy losses are within a factor of two lower than the calculated fast electron energy. We interpret the observations as showing that the first flare occurred in a small loop with fast electrons heating the chromosphere and resulting in chromospheric evaporation increasing the density in the loop. For the second flare most of the heating occurred at the electron acceleration site. The two symmetrical components of the Ca xix resonance line and a high velocity down-flow of 115 km s −1 observed at the end of the second hard X-ray burst are consistent with the flare eruption (reconnection) region being high in the flare loop. The estimated altitude of the acceleration site is 5500 km above the photosphere.

The Structure of Extended Extragalactic Radio Sources

The observational properties of extragalactic radio sources of sizes comparable with or greater than a typical galactic diameter and intrinsic luminosities at 408 MHz greater than 10 to the 23rd W/Hz are discussed. Following a survey of the major instrumental and observational techniques developed over the last three decades for the measurement of source structure, classes of radio structure that are commonly observed, including narrow edge-brightened and -darkened double sources, narrow- and wide-tailed sources and cluster halos, are described, and various taxonomic sequences of these morphologies are discussed. Means by which such physical properties as the energetics, confinement parameters, magnetic fields, sites of electron acceleration and rotation are derived from intensity and polarization distribution measurements are examined, and the observed characteristics of the various components of extended radio sources are considered in detail, including diffuse emission regions, hot spots, cores and jets. Finally, relationships of radio source morphologies to the properties of the parent galaxies and clusters are reviewed, and a model of the radio-source phenomenon is proposed.