type-II Radio Bursts Research Articles

Solar Type II Radio Bursts Recorded by the Compound Astronomical Low-Frequency Low-Cost Instrument for Spectroscopy in Transportable Observatories in Brazil

It is well established that solar Type-II radio bursts are signatures of magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) shock waves propagating outward through the solar corona. Nevertheless, there are long-standing controversies about how these shocks are formed; solar flares and the coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are considered to be the most likely drivers. We present the results of the analysis of four solar Type-II bursts recorded between 20 January 2010 and 17 November 2011 by the Compound Astronomical Low-frequency Low-cost Instrument for Spectroscopy in Transportable Observatories (CALLISTO-BR) (in Brazil), which operates in the frequency range of 45 – 870 MHz. For all four solar Type-II radio bursts, which consisted of one event without band splitting and three split-band variants, the outcomes are consistent with those reported in the literature. All four Type-II radio bursts were accompanied by both solar flares and CMEs, which are associated with the impulsive phase of the flares and, very likely, with the acceleration phase of the CMEs.

CME Expansion as the Driver of Metric Type II Shock Emission as Revealed by Self-consistent Analysis of High-Cadence EUV Images and Radio Spectrograms

On 13 June 2010, an eruptive event occurred near the solar limb. It included a small filament eruption and the onset of a relatively narrow coronal mass ejection (CME) surrounded by an extreme ultraviolet wave front recorded by the Solar Dynamics Observatory's (SDO) Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) at high cadence. The ejection was accompanied by a GOES M1.0 soft X-ray flare and a Type-II radio burst; high-resolution dynamic spectra of the latter were obtained by the ARTEMIS IV radio spectrograph. The combined observations enabled a study of the evolution of the ejecta and the EUV wavefront and its relationship with the coronal shock manifesting itself as metric Type-II burst. By introducing a novel technique, which deduces a proxy of the EUV compression ratio from AIA imaging data and compares it with the compression ratio deduced from the band-split of the Type-II metric radio burst, we are able to infer the potential source locations of the radio emission of the shock on that AIA images. Our results indicate that the expansion of the CME ejecta is the source for both EUV and radio shock emissions. Early in the CME expansion phase, the Type-II burst seems to originate in the sheath region between the EUV bubble and the EUV shock front in both radial and lateral directions. This suggests that both the nose and the flanks of the expanding bubble could have driven the shock.

Geoeffectiveness and flare properties of radio-loud CMEs

A detailed investigation on geoeffective CMEs associated with meter to Deca-Hectometer (herein after m- and DH-type-II) wavelengths range type-II radio bursts observed during the period 1997–2005 is presented. The study consists of three steps: i) the characteristics of m-and DH-type-II bursts associated with flares and geoeffective CMEs; ii) characteristics of geo and non-geoeffective radio-loud and quiet CMEs, iii) the relationships between the geoeffective CMEs and flares properties. Interestingly, we found that 92 % of DH-type-II bursts are extension of m-type-II burst which are associated with faster and wider geoeffective DH-CMEs and also associated with longer/stronger flares. The geoeffective CME-associated m-type-II bursts have higher starting frequency, lower ending frequency and larger bandwidth compared to the general population of m-type-II bursts. The geoeffective CME-associated DH-type-II bursts have longer duration (P≪1 %), lower ending frequency (P=2 %) and lower drift rates (P=2 %) than that of DH-type-IIs associated with non-geoeffective CMEs. The differences in mean speed of geoeffective DH-CMEs and non-geoeffective DH-CMEs (1327 km s−1 and 1191 km s−1, respectively) is statistically insignificant (P=20 %).However, the mean difference in width (339∘ and 251∘, respectively) is high statistical significant (P=0.8 %). The geo-effective general populations of LASCO CMEs speeds (545 km s−1 and 450 km s−1, respectively) and widths (252∘ and 60∘, respectively) is higher than the non geo-effective general populations of LASCO CMEs (P=3 % and P=0.02 %, respectively). The geoeffective CMEs associated flares have longer duration, and strong flares than non-geoeffective DH-CMEs associated flares (P=0.8 % and P=1 %, respectively). We have found a good correlation between the geo-effective flare and DH-CMEs properties: i) CMEs speed—acceleration (R=−0.78, where R is a linear correlation coefficient), ii) acceleration—flare peak flux (R=−0.73) and, iii) acceleration—Dst index intensity (R=0.75). The radio-rich CMEs (DH-CMEs) produced more energetic storm than the radio-quiet CMEs (general populations of LASCO CMEs). The above results indicate that the DH-type-II bursts tend to be related with flares and geoeffective CMEs, although there is no physical explanation for the result. If the DH-type-II burst is a continuation of m-type-II burst, it could be a good indicator of geoeffective storms, which has important implications for space weather studies.

Spatially resolved observations of a split-band coronal type II radio burst

Context. The origin of coronal type-II radio bursts and of their band-splitting are still not fully understood. Aims. To make progress in solving this problem on the basis of one extremely well observed solar eruptive event. Methods. The relative dynamics of multi-thermal eruptive plasmas, observed in detail by the SDO/AIA and of the harmonic type-II burst sources, observed by the NRH at ten frequencies from 445 to 151 MHz, is studied for the partially behind the limb event on 3 November 2010. Special attention is given to the band-splitting of the burst. Analysis is supplemented by investigation of coronal hard X-ray (HXR) sources observed by the RHESSI. Results. It is found that the flare impulsive phase was accompanied by the formation of a double coronal HXR source, whose upper part coincided with the hot (T~10 MK) eruptive plasma blob. The leading edge (LE) of the eruptive plasmas (T~1-2 MK) moved upward from the flare region with the speed of v=900-1400 km/s. The type II burst source initially appeared just above the LE apex and moved with the same speed and in the same direction. After about 20 s it started to move about twice faster, but still in the same direction. At any given moment the low frequency component (LFC) source of the splitted type-II burst was situated above the high frequency component (HFC) source, which in turn was situated above the LE. It is also found that at a given frequency the HFC source was located slightly closer to the photosphere than the LFC source. Conclusions. The shock wave, which could be responsible for the observed type-II radio burst, was initially driven by the multi-temperature eruptive plasmas, but later transformed to a freely propagating blast shock wave. The most preferable interpretation of the type-II burst splitting is that its LFC was emitted from the upstream region of the shock, whereas the HFC - from the downstream region.

Kinematics and Flare Properties of Radio-Loud CMEs

A detailed analysis of the characteristics of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and flares associated with decameter-hectometer wavelength type-II radio bursts (hereafter DH-type-II radio bursts, DH-CMEs or radio-loud CMEs) observed in the period 1997 – 2008 is presented. A sample of 61 limb events is divided into two populations based on the residual acceleration: accelerating CMEs (a r>0) and decelerating CMEs (a r<0). We found that average speed (residual acceleration) of all limb DH-CMEs (called radio-loud CMEs) is nearly three (two) times greater than the average speed of the general population CMEs (radio-quiet CMEs). While the initial acceleration (a i) of the accelerating DH-CMEs is smaller than that of decelerating DH-CMEs (0.79 and 1.62 km s−2, respectively), the average speed and magnitude of residual acceleration of the accelerating and decelerating DH-CMEs are similar (〈V CME〉: 1254 km s−1 and 1303 km s−1; 〈a r〉: 0.026 km s−2 and 0.028 km s−2, respectively). The accelerating DH-CMEs attain their peak speed at larger heights than decelerating DH-CMEs. A good positive and negative linear correlation for accelerating and decelerating DH-CMEs (R a=0.74 and R d=−0.77, respectively) is found. The flares associated with accelerating DH-CME events have longer rise times and decay times than flares of decelerating DH-CME. The accelerating and decelerating DH-CMEs events associated with DH-type-II bursts have similar ending frequencies. The analysis of time lags between DH-type-II start and the flare onset shows that the delays are longer in accelerating DH-CMEs than decelerating DH-CMEs (P∼7 %). However, the time lags between the DH-type-II start and the CMEs onset are similar.

Solar radio bursts and acceleration of solar energy particles

The correlation between the proton flux intensity Ip with the energies Ep > 1−100 MeV and radio burst parameters for 107 solar energetic events is considered using the observation data for 1989–2005 obtained with GOES and Wind satellites, as well as the Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN). It has been revealed that 73 and 77% of the events were accompanied by type-II radio bursts in the meter (m II, 25–299 MHz) and the decameter-hectometer (DH II, 20 kHz–14 MHz) wavelength ranges, respectively. The correlation coefficient between Ip and the frequency drift velocity of the type-II bursts VII did not exceed 0.40. As VII increased, the intensity of Ip increased for the m-II bursts and decreased for the DH-II bursts. Coronal shock waves accelerate protons more efficiently than interplanetary waves, and their contribution to acceleration increases with an increase in the particle energy Ep. The acceleration of solar energetic particles in the region of the flare energy release is predominant.

Energy Spectra, Composition, and Other Properties of Ground-Level Events During Solar Cycle 23

We report spacecraft measurements of the energy spectra of solar protons and other solar energetic particle properties during the 16 Ground Level Events (GLEs) of Solar Cycle 23. The measurements were made by eight instruments on the ACE, GOES, SAMPEX, and STEREO spacecraft and extend from ∼0.1 to ∼500–700 MeV. All of the proton spectra exhibit spectral breaks at energies ranging from ∼2 to ∼46 MeV and all are well fit by a double power-law shape. A comparison of GLE events with a larger sample of other solar energetic particle (SEP) events shows that the typical spectral indices are harder in GLE events, with a mean slope of −3.18 at >40 MeV/nuc. In the energy range 45 to 80 MeV/nucleon about ∼50 % of GLE events have properties in common with impulsive ^(3)He-rich SEP events, including enrichments in Ne/O, Fe/O, ^(22)Ne/^(20)Ne, and elevated mean charge states of Fe. These ^(3)He-rich events contribute to the seed population accelerated by CME-driven shocks. An analysis is presented of whether highly-ionized Fe ions observed in five events could be due to electron stripping during shock acceleration in the low corona. Making use of stripping calculations by others and a coronal density model, we can account for events with mean Fe charge states of ≈+20 if the acceleration starts at ∼1.24–1.6 solar radii, consistent with recent comparisons of CME trajectories and type-II radio bursts. In addition, we suggest that gradual stripping of remnant ions from earlier large SEP events may also contribute a highly-ionized suprathermal seed population. We also discuss how observed SEP spectral slopes relate to the energetics of particle acceleration in GLE and other large SEP events.

SIMULTANEOUS OBSERVATIONS OF A LARGE-SCALE WAVE EVENT IN THE SOLAR ATMOSPHERE: FROM PHOTOSPHERE TO CORONA

For the first time, we report a large-scale wave that was observed simultaneously in the photosphere, chromosphere, transition region and low corona layers of the solar atmosphere. Using the high temporal and high spatial resolution observations taken by the Solar Magnetic Activity Research Telescope at Hida Observatory and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard Solar Dynamic Observatory, we find that the wave evolved synchronously at different heights of the solar atmosphere, and it propagated at a speed of 605 km/s and showed a significant deceleration (-424 m/s2) in the extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) observations. During the initial stage, the wave speed in the EUV observations was 1000 km/s, similar to those measured from the AIA 1700 {\AA} (967 km/s) and 1600 {\AA} (893 km/s) observations. The wave was reflected by a remote region with open fields, and a slower wave-like feature at a speed of 220 km/s was also identified following the primary fast wave. In addition, a type-II radio burst was observed to be associated with the wave. We conclude that this wave should be a fast magnetosonic shock wave, which was firstly driven by the associated coronal mass ejection and then propagated freely in the corona. As the shock wave propagated, its legs swept the solar surface and thereby resulted in the wave signatures observed in the lower layers of the solar atmosphere. The slower wave-like structure following the primary wave was probably caused by the reconfiguration of the low coronal magnetic fields, as predicted in the field-line stretching model.

Distinctions between the characteristics of before and after DH CMEs associated flares

A detailed analysis of characteristics of coronal mass ejections and flares associated with deca-hectometer wavelength type-II radio bursts (DH-CMEs and DH-flares) observed in the period 1997–2008 is presented. A sample of 62 limb events is divided into two populations known as after-flare CMEs (AF-CMEs) and before-flare CMEs (BF-CMEs) based on the relative timing of the flare and CME onsets. On average, AF-CMEs (1589 km s−1) have more speed than the BF-CMEs (1226 km s−1) and the difference between mean values are highly significant (P∼2%). The average CME nose height at the time of type-II start is at larger distance for AF-CMEs than the BF-CMEs (4.89 and 3.84 Ro, respectively). We found a good anti-correlation for accelerating (Ra=−0.89) and decelerating (Rd=−0.78) AF-CMEs. In the case of decelerating BF-CMEs, the correlation seems to be similar to that for decelerating AF-CMEs (Rd=−0.83). The number of decelerating AF-CMEs is 51% only; where as, the number of decelerating BF-CMEs is 83%. The flares associated with BF-CMEs have shorter rise and decay times than flares related to AF-CMEs. We found statistically significant differences between the two sets of associated DH-type-II bursts characteristics: starting frequency (P∼4%), drift rate (P∼1%), and ending frequency (P∼6%). The delay time analysis of DH-type-II start and flare onset times shows that the time lags are longer in AF-CME events than in BF-CME events (P≪1%). From the above results, the AF-CMEs which are associated with DH-type-II bursts are found to be more energetic, associated with long duration flares and DH-type-IIs of lower ending frequencies.

Characteristics of Type-II Radio Bursts Associated with Flares and CMEs

We present a statistical study of the characteristics of type-II radio bursts observed in the metric (m) and deca-hectometer (DH) wavelength range during 1997–2008. The collected events are divided into two groups: Group I contains the events of m-type-II bursts with starting frequency ≥ 100 MHz, and group II contains the events with starting frequency of m-type-II radio bursts < 100 MHz. We have analyzed both samples considering three different aspects: i) statistical properties of type-II bursts, ii) statistical properties of flares and CMEs associated with type-II bursts, and iii) time delays between type-II bursts, flares, and CMEs. We find significant differences in the properties of m-type-II bursts in duration, bandwidth, drift rate, shock speed and delay between m- and DH-type-II bursts. From the timing analysis we found that the majority of m-type-II bursts in both groups occur during the flare impulsive phase. On the other hand, the DH-type-II bursts in both groups occur during the decaying phase of the associated flares. Almost all m-DH-type-II bursts are found to be associated with CMEs. Our results indicate that there are two kinds of shock in which group I (high frequency) m-type-II bursts seem to be ignited by flares whereas group II (low frequency) m-type-II bursts are CME-driven.

Energy interconnection between the plasma cloud ejected from the active region and the shock wave

The relation between the ejected plasma cloud and the shock wave propagating ahead of it is examined for 27 pairs of such events. The flare sprays and the eruptive prominences observed in Hα line as well as the fast-moving sources of type-IV radio bursts have been considered as such ejected plasma clouds. Propagation of the shock wave in the solar corona has been examined from the observations of type-II radio bursts. Using the Parker model of the propagation of a shock wave, the shock wave velocity has been compared with the plasma cloud velocity. Energy interconnection between these two events has been studied. In the majority of the investigated cases there exists an energetic interconnection between the plasma cloud and the shock wave.

Tracking of flare-generated interplanetary shock waves, responsible for Forbush decreases, by observing type-II radio bursts

New possibilities are pointed out of a more accurate identification of solar flares, responsible for Forbush decreases of galactic cosmic rays, caused by flare-generated interplanetary shock waves, based on tracking type-II radio bursts. Nine solar flares, observed between September 1978 and December 1979, generated shock waves which produced intensive type-II radio bursts observed in the hectometric and kilometric wave range by the ISEE-3 satellite. All the type-II shocks were responsible for Forbush decreases. Since the observation of type-II radio bursts enables us to follow the propagation of shock waves practically from the place where they are generated deep in the solar corona, through interplanetary space as far as the Earth, these observations provide the possibility of exact identification of Forbush decreases with the corresponding flares. These observations have also supplied a further dimension for analysing interplanetary disturbances and forecasting Forbush decreases.

A note on the acceleration phase of high-energy particles in the solar flare on 7 July, 1966

The acceleration phase of solar cosmic rays and relativistic electrons is studied on the basis of the observational data available on the optical, radio, X-ray, and particle events associated with the solar flare that occurred on July 7, 1966. The generating process of hydromagnetic shock waves which excited the type-II radio burst detected at a frequency below about 100 MHz is also discussed. The results of the study suggest that no secondary acceleration process after the explosive phase can contribute much to the generation of high energy particles. The ejection of solar cosmic rays and relativistic electrons seems to be related to the expansion of the magnetic bulge which can trap accelerated electrons from the triggering region of solar flares.