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The Physics of Solar Flares

The Physics of Solar Flares. Examining Solar Flares and Radio Bursts By Caylin Mendelowitz and Claire Rosen. OUTLINE. Flares Bursts Solar Activity Energy Storage Energy Release Energy Requirements Flare Prediction Summary. Gregory, p. 202. Solar Interior. Solar interior.

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The Physics of Solar Flares

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  1. The Physics of Solar Flares Examining Solar Flares and Radio Bursts By Caylin Mendelowitz and Claire Rosen

  2. OUTLINE • Flares • Bursts • Solar Activity • Energy Storage • Energy Release • Energy Requirements • Flare Prediction • Summary

  3. Gregory, p. 202 Solar Interior • Solar interior

  4. Solar Flares • What are they? • Radiation • optical (H) • radio • Phases • activation • impulsive • late

  5. Radio Bursts • Different Types • type I : thermal • type II & IV: plasma oscillations (shock) & synchrotron • type III & V: plasma oscillations (electrons) & synchrotron • Association with flare phases • type III & V coincide with impulsive phase • type II & IV follow impulsive phase • type I in late phase (storm phase)

  6. Gregory, p.221 Solar Activity • 22 year cycle • Signs of solar activity • flares, CME’s, filaments, sunspots • Solar magnetic field • frozen field lines • differential rotation --> twisted magnetic field lines • convection --> kinks • buoyancy -->loops (connect sunspots)

  7. Figure 4 Gregory, p.220 Energy Storage • Open field lines • B|| (above) – B|| (below) = 0K, where 0 is the permeability of free space and K is surface current density

  8. Carroll, p. 424 Field Loop with Current Sheet

  9. Tandberg-Hanssen and Emslie, cover http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/ Energy Release • Accelerated particles • excite plasma oscillations --> type III bursts • synchrotron radiation-- type IV and V bursts • heat plasma --> H double ribbons • X-ray or H loop prominence • loop expands as CME -shock excites plasma oscillations --> type II bursts

  10. Energy Requirements • Typical field strength of active region B = 300 G. Flare energy is 1032 ergs • Magnetic energy density is = B2/8 = 3580 ergs/cm3 • W = P  dV = PV. Solving for V we get V = W/P and • so the minimum volume needed to contain the energy is V = 2.79 * 1028 cm3 • Approximate to cube, so L = 3*109 cm • Length of H ribbon is 1010 cm -- Physical dimensions compare • Reconnection time •  R = ½ (R m)1/4A1/2 D1/2 = 3sec • Time scale compares

  11. Dooling, p. 2 Flare Prediction • Coronal Mass Ejections (CME’s) • Sigmoid regions • Zeeman effect • Magnetograph

  12. Summary • Flares (general) - cause? • Origins --> magnetic energy storage • Mechanism --> reconnection • Correlation between radio and optical emission • thermal emission --> H ribbon (optical) • plasma oscillations and synchrotron --> radio waves • Prediction

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