Showing papers in "Solar Physics in 1997"

Eit observations of the extreme ultraviolet sun

Abstract: The Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on board the SOHO spacecraft has been operational since 2 January 1996. EIT observes the Sun over a 45 × 45 arc min field of view in four emission line groups: Fe IX, X, Fe XIIi, Fe xv, and He II. A post-launch determination of the instrument flatfield, the instrument scattering function, and the instrument aging were necessary for the reduction and analysis of the data. The observed structures and their evolution in each of the four EUV bandpasses are characteristic of the peak emission temperature of the line(s) chosen for that bandpass. Reports on the initial results of a variety of analysis projects demonstrate the range of investigations now underway: EIT provides new observations of the corona in the temperature range of 1 to 2 MK. Temperature studies of the large-scale coronal features extend previous coronagraph work with low-noise temperature maps. Temperatures of radial, extended, plume-like structures in both the polar coronal hole and in a low latitude decaying active region were found to be cooler than the surrounding material. Active region loops were investigated in detail and found to be isothermal for the low loops but hottest at the loop tops for the large loops.

First Results from the SOHO Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer

Abstract: The SOHO Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer (UYCS/SOHO) is being used to observe the extended solar corona from 1.25 to 10 R from Sun center. Initial observations of polar coronal holes and equatorial streamers are described. The observations include measurements of spectral line profiles for H I Lα and Lβ, O VI 1032 A and 1037 A, Mg × 625 A, Fe XII 1242 A and several others. Intensities for Mg × 610 A, Si XII 499 A, and 520 A, S × 1196 A, and 22 others have been observed. Preliminary results for derived H0, O5+, Mg9+, and Fe11+ velocity distributions and initial indications of outflow velocities for O5+ are described. In streamers, the H0 velocity distribution along the line of sight (specified by the value at e-1, along the line of sight) decreases from a maximum value of about 180 km s-1 at 2 R to about 140 km s-1 at 8 R. The value for O5+ increases with height reaching a value of 150 km s-1 at 4.7 R. In polar coronal holes, the O5+ velocity at e-1 is atout equal to that of H0 at 1.7 R and significantly larger at 2.1 R. The O5+ in both streamers and coronal holes were found to have amsotropic velocity distributions with the smaller values in the radial direction.

First results of the SUMER telescope and spectrometer-solar ultraviolet measurements of emitted radiation-on SOHO, I. Spectra and Spectroradiometry

Abstract: SUMER – the Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of the Emitted Radiation instrument on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) – observed its first light on January 24, 1996, and subsequently obtained a detailed spectrum with detector B in the wavelength range from 660 to 1490 A (in first order) inside and above the limb in the north polar coronal hole. Using detector A of the instrument, this range was later extended to 1610 A. The second-order spectra of detectors A and B cover 330 to 805 A and are superimposed on the first-order spectra. Many more features and areas of the Sun and their spectra have been observed since, including coronal holes, polar plumes and active regions. The atoms and ions emitting this radiation exist at temperatures below 2 × 106 K and are thus ideally suited to investigate the solar transition region where the temperature increases from chromospheric to coronal values. SUMER can also be operated in a manner such that it makes images or spectroheliograms of different sizes in selected spectral lines. A detailed line profile with spectral resolution elements between 22 and 45 mA is produced for each line at each spatial location along the slit. From the line width, intensity and wavelength position we are able to deduce temperature, density, and velocity of the emitting atoms and ions for each emission line and spatial element in the spectroheliogram. Because of the high spectral resolution and low noise of SUMER, we have been able to detect faint lines not previously observed and, in addition, to determine their spectral profiles. SUMER has already recorded over 2000 extreme ultraviolet emission lines and many identifications have been made on the disk and in the corona.

Composition of Coronal Streamers from the SOHO Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer

Abstract: The Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer on the SOHO satellite covers the 940–1350 A range as well as the 470–630 A range in second order. It has detected coronal emission lines of H, N, O, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ar, Ca, Fe, and Ni, particularly in coronal streamers. Resonance scattering of emission lines from the solar disk dominates the intensities of a few lines, but electron collisional excitation produces most of the lines observed. Resonance, intercombination and forbidden lines are seen, and their relative line intensities are diagnostics for the ionization state and elemental abundances of the coronal gas.

Structure and rotation of the solar interior: initial results from the MDI medium-l program

Abstract: The medium-l program of the Michelson Doppler Imager instrument on board SOHO provides continuous observations of oscillation modes of angular degree, l, from 0 to ∼ 300. The data for the program are partly processed on board because only about 3% of MDI observations can be transmitted continuously to the ground. The on-board data processing, the main component of which is Gaussian-weighted binning, has been optimized to reduce the negative influence of spatial aliasing of the high-degree oscillation modes. The data processing is completed in a data analysis pipeline at the SOI Stanford Support Center to determine the mean multiplet frequencies and splitting coefficients.

Two-fluid model for heating of the solar corona and acceleration of the solar wind by high-frequency alfvén waves

Abstract: A model of the solar corona and wind is developed which includes for the first time the heating and acceleration effects of high-frequency Alfven waves in the frequency range between 1 Hz and 1 kHz. The waves are assumed to be generated by the small-scale magnetic activity in the chromospheric network. The wave dissipation near the gyro-frequency, which decreases with increasing solar distance, leads to strong coronal heating. The resulting heating function is different from other artificial heating functions used in previous model calculations. The associated thermal pressure-gradient force and wave pressure-gradient force together can accelerate the wind to high velocities, such as those observed by Helios and Ulysses. Classical Coulomb heat conduction is also considered and turns out to play a role in shaping the temperature profiles of the heated protons. The time-dependent two-fluid (electrons and protons) model equations and the time-dependent wave-spectrum equation are numerically integrated versus solar distance out to about 0.3 AU. The solutions finally converge and settle on time-stationary profiles which are discussed in detail. The model computations can be made to fit the observed density profiles of a polar coronal hole and polar plume with the sonic point occurring at 2.4 R⊙ and 3.2 R⊙, respectively. The solar wind speeds obtained at 63 R⊙ are 740 km s-1 and 540 km s-1; the mass flux is 2.1 and 2.2 × 108 cm-2 s-1 (normalized to 1 AU), respectively. The proton temperature increases from a value of 4 × 105 K at the lower boundary to 2 × 106 K in the corona near 2 R⊙.

FIRST RESULTS OF THE SUMER TELESCOPE AND SPECTROMETER ON SOHO – II. Imagery and Data Management

Abstract: SUMER – Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation – is not only an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectrometer capable of obtaining detailed spectra in the range from 500 to 1610 A, but, using the telescope mechanisms, it also provides monochromatic images over the full solar disk and beyond, into the corona, with high spatial resolution. We report on some aspects of the observation programmes that have already led us to a new view of many aspects of the Sun, including quiet Sun, chromospheric and transition region network, coronal hole, polar plume, prominence and active region studies. After an introduction, where we compare the SUMER imaging capabilities to previous experiments in our wavelength range, we describe the results of tests performed in order to characterize and optimize the telescope under operational conditions. We find the spatial resolution to be 1.2 arc sec across the slit and 2 arc sec (2 detector pixels) along the slit. Resolution and sensitivity are adequate to provide details on the structure, physical properties, and evolution of several solar features which we then present. Finally some information is given on the data availability and the data management system.

Polar Plume Anatomy: Results of a Coordinated Observation

Abstract: On 7 and 8 March 1996, the SOHO spacecraft and several other space- and ground-based observatories cooperated in the most comprehensive observation to date of solar polar plumes. Based on simultaneous data from five instruments, we describe the morphology of the plumes observed over the south pole of the Sun during the SOHO observing campaign. Individual plumes have been characterized from the photosphere to approximately 15 R, yielding a coherent portrait of the features for more quantitative future studies. The observed plumes arise from small (∼2-5 arc sec diameter) quiescent, unipolar magnetic flux concentrations, on chromospheric network cell boundaries. They are denser and cooler than the surrounding coronal hole through which they extend, and are seen clearly in both Fe IX and Fe XII emission lines, indicating an ionization temperature between 1.0–1.5 × 106 K. The plumes initially expand rapidly with altitude, to a diameter of 20–30 Mm about 30 Mm off the surface. Above 1.2 R, plumes are observed in white light (as ‘coronal rays’) and extend to above 12 R. They grow superradially throughout their observed height, increasing their subtended solid angle (relative to disk center) by a factor of ∼10 between 1.05 R and 4-5 R and by a total factor of 20-40 between 1.05 R and 12 R. On spatial scales larger than 10 arc sec, plume structure in the lower corona (R < 1.3 RQ) is observed to be steady-state for periods of at least 24 hours; however., on spatial scales smaller than 10 arc sec, plume XUV intensities vary by 10-20% (after background subtraction) on a time scale of a few minutes.

EIT and LASCO Observations of the Initiation of a Coronal Mass Ejection

Abstract: We present the first observations of the initiation of a coronal mass ejection (CME) seen on the disk of the Sun. Observations with the EIT experiment on SOHO show that the CME began in a small volume and was initially associated with slow motions of prominence material and a small brightening at one end of the prominence. Shortly afterward, the prominence was accelerated to about 100 km s-1 and was preceded by a bright loop-like structure, which surrounded an emission void, that traveled out into the corona at a velocity of 200–400 km s-1. These three components, the prominence, the dark void, and the bright loops are typical of CMEs when seen at distance in the corona and here are shown to be present at the earliest stages of the CME. The event was later observed to traverse the LASCO coronagraphs fields of view from 1.1 to 30 R. Of particular interest is the fact that this large-scale event, spanning as much as 70 deg in latitude, originated in a volume with dimensions of roughly 35″ (2.5 × 104 km). Further, a disturbance that propagated across the disk and a chain of activity near the limb may also be associated with this event as well as a considerable degree of activity near the west limb.

Reconstructing the solar coronal magnetic field as a force-free magnetic field

Abstract: We present some preliminary results on different mathematical problems encountered in attempts to reconstruct the coronal magnetic field, assumed to be in a force-free state, from its values in the photosphere. We discuss the formulations associated with these problems, and some new numerical methods that can be used to get their approximate solutions. Both the linear constant-α and the nonlinear cases are considered. We also discuss the possible use of dynamical 3D MHD codes to construct approximate solutions of the equilibrium force-free equations, which are needed for testing numerical extrapolation schemes.

An empirical study of the electron temperature and heavy ion velocities in the south polar coronal hole

Abstract: The solar wind ions flowing outward through the solar corona generally have their ionic fractions ‘freeze-in’ within 5 solar radii. The altitude where the freeze-in occurs depends on the competition between two time scales: the time over which the wind flows through a density scale height, and the time over which the ions achieve ionization equilibrium. Therefore, electron temperature, electron density, and the velocity of the ions are the three main physical quantities which determine the freeze-in process, and thus the solar wind ionic charge states. These physical quantities are determined by the heating and acceleration of the solar wind, as well as the geometry of the expansion. In this work, we present a parametric study of the electron temperature profile and velocities of the heavy ions in the inner solar corona. We use the ionic charge composition data observed by the SWICS experiment on Ulysses during the south polar pass to derive empirically the electron temperature profile in the south polar coronal hole. We find that the electron temperature profile in the solar inner corona is well constrained by the solar wind charge composition data. The data also indicate that the electron temperature profile must have a maximum within 2 solar radii. We also find that the velocities of heavy ions in their freeze-in regions are small (<100 km s-1) and different elements must flow at different velocities in the inner corona.

First Results from VIRGO, the Experiment for Helioseismology and Solar Irradiance Monitoring on SOHO

Abstract: First results from the VIRGO experiment (Variability of solar IRradiance and Gravity Oscillations) on the ESA/NASA Mission SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) are reported. The observations started mid-January 1996 for the radiometers and sunphotometers and near the end of March for the luminosity oscillation imager. The performance of all the instruments is very good, and the time series of the first 4–6 months are evaluated in terms of solar irradiance variability, solar background noise characteristics and p-mode oscillations. The solar irradiance is modulated by the passage of active regions across the disk, but not all of the modulation is straightforwardly explained in terms of sunspot flux blocking and facular enhancement. Helioseismic inversions of the observed p-mode frequencies are more-or-less in agreement with the latest standard solar models. The comparison of VIRGO results with earlier ones shows evidence that magnetic activity plays a significant role in the dynamics of the oscillations beyond its modulation of the resonant frequencies. Moreover, by comparing the amplitudes of different components of p-mode multiplets, each of which are influenced differently by spatial inhomogeneity, we have found that activity enhances excitation.

EUV Blinkers: The Significance of Variations in the Extreme Ultraviolet Quiet Sun

Abstract: A search for microflare activity in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) quiet Sun using the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft has not resulted in the identification of microflare activity, but has resulted in the identification of a hitherto unknown phenomenon: enhancements of a factor of 2–3 in the flux of transition region lines at network junctions. A total of some 6 hours of observation of 5 different target areas showed this ‘blinker’ activity at each area, with durations ranging from 1 to 30 min and averaging 13 min, and thermal energy content of order 10-6 that of a ‘standard’ flare. Assuming that the observations are of typical quiet Sun, and projecting these data to predict a distribution of these events over the entire Sun, the total thermal energy content of these ‘blinkers’ is insignificant when compared to the energy required to heat the corona. The nature of these events and their significance are discussed in this paper.

Time-Distance Helioseismology with the MDI Instrument: Initial Results

Abstract: In time-distance helioseismology, the travel time of acoustic waves is measured between various points on the solar surface. To some approximation, the waves can be considered to follow ray paths that depend only on a mean solar model, with the curvature of the ray paths being caused by the increasing sound speed with depth below the surface. The travel time is affected by various inhomogeneities along the ray path, including flows, temperature inhomogeneities, and magnetic fields. By measuring a large number of times between different locations and using an inversion method, it is possible to construct 3-dimensional maps of the subsurface inhomogeneities.

Problems and Progress in Computing Three-Dimensional Coronal Active Region Magnetic Fields from Boundary Data

Abstract: An overview of the whole process of reconstructing the coronal magnetic field from boundary data measured at the photosphere is presented. We discuss the errors and uncertainties in the data and in the data reduction process. The problems include noise in the magnetograph measurements, uncertainties in the interpretation of polarization signals, the 180° ambiguity in the transverse field, and the fact that the photosphere is not force-free. Methods for computing the three-dimensional structure of coronal active region magnetic fields, under the force-free assumption, from these boundary data, are then discussed. The methods fall into three classes: the ‘extrapolation’ technique, which seeks to integrate upwards from the photosphere using only local values at the boundary; the ‘current-field iteration’ technique, which propagates currents measured at the boundary along field lines, then iteratively recomputes the magnetic field due to this current distribution; and the ‘evolutionary’ technique, which simulates the evolution of the coronal field, under quasi-physical resistive magnetohydrodynamic equations, as currents injected at the boundary are driven towards the observed values. The extrapolation method is mathematically ill-posed, and must be heavily smoothed to avoid exponential divergence. It may be useful for tracing low-lying field lines, but appears incapable of reconstructing the magnetic field higher in the corona. The original formulation of the current-field iteration method had problems achieving convergence, but a recent reformulation appears promising. Evolutionary methods have been applied to several real datasets, with apparent success.

Making Sense of Sunspot Decay. I. Parabolic Decay Law and Gnevyshev–Waldmeier Relation

Abstract: In a statistical study of the decay of individual sunspots based on DPR data we find that the mean instantaneous area decay rate is related to the spot radius ro and the maximum radius ro as D = CD r/ro, CD = 32.0±0.26 MSH day -1. This implies that sunspots on the mean follow a parabolic decay law; the traditional linear decay law is excluded by the data. The validity of the Gnevyshev–Waldmeier relationship between the maximum area A 0 and lifetime T of a spot group, A0/T ≃10 MSH day-1, is also demonstrated for individual sunspots. No evidence is found for a supposed supergranular ‘quantization’ of sunspot areas. Our results strongly support the recent turbulent erosion model of sunspot decay while all other models are excluded.

Alfven Wave Phase Mixing as a Source of Fast Magnetosonic Waves

Abstract: The nonlinear excitation of fast magnetosonic waves by phase mixing Alfven waves in a cold plasma with a smooth inhomogeneity of density across a uniform magnetic field is considered If initially fast waves are absent from the system, then nonlinearity leads to their excitation by transversal gradients in the Alfven wave The efficiency of the nonlinear Alfven–fast magnetosonic wave coupling is strongly increased by the inhomogeneity of the medium The fast waves, permanently generated by Alfven wave phase mixing, are refracted from the region with transversal gradients of the Alfven speed This nonlinear process suggests a mechanism of indirect plasma heating by phase mixing through the excitation of obliquely propagating fast waves

Global Magnetic Patterns of Chirality

Abstract: During the past five years at least six manifestations of a global organization of solar magnetic fields have been recognized. The magnetic chirality (handedness) of the following features shows a hemispheric preference: filament channels, quiescent filaments, sunspot whorls, superpenumbral fibrils, coronal arcades, and interplanetary clouds associated with CMEs. Although the patterns are clear in the data, their interpretation and their possible connection to the dynamo is open to question. This paper reviews the observations of the patterns, corrects some misinterpretations, and offers a scenario for the origin of the most marked pattern, the chirality of filaments. We suggest the pattern arises from the reconnection of coronal loops, under the influence of supergranulation and differential rotation. Unlike alternative scenarios, ours relies only on observable surface motions and fields.

Double-Loop Configuration of Solar Flares

Abstract: We analyzed several flares, which are presumed to be caused by interactions between an emerging loop and an overlying loop. We call such a basic combination of loops a ‘double-loop configuration’, and we reveal its topology on the basis of the microwave and soft X-ray observations of the flares and the magnetograms. In many cases, the magnetic field of the flare loops shows a ‘bipolar + remote unipolar’ structure, rather than a quadrapole structure. The footpoints of two loops are distributed in three magnetic patches, and two of the footpoints of the loops, one from the emerging loop and the other from the overlying loop, are included in a single magnetic polarity patch. Therefore, the two loops form a ‘three-legged’ structure, and the two loops are not anti-parallel as assumed in the traditional reconnection models. Typically, the emergence of a parasitic polarity near the major preceding-polarity region or the following one in an active region creates this configuration, but, in one of the analyzed flares, two active regions are involved in the configuration. Not only the flares, but various other active phenomena – microflares, thermal plasma flows like jets, and surges – occur in the same magnetic configuration. Hence, the interaction between two loops, which forms the three-legged structure, is an important source of the various types of activity.

Doppler Shifts in the Quiet-Sun Transition Region and Corona Observed with Sumer on SOHO

Abstract: New observations of systematic red shifts of tansition region and coronal lines obtained with SUMER (Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation) on SOHO (the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) are presented With the extensive wavelength coverage of SUMER it is possible to extend the measurements of the red shifts to much higher temperatures compared to previous instalments We find lines formed in the upper transition region (eg O v, S v, and S VI) to be red-shifted similar to lower temperature lines (T ≤ 18 × 105 K) Even hotter lines such as O VI, Ne VIII and Mg × show systematic red shifts on the order of 5 km s-1 in the quiet Sun This is a new and significant result since previous measurements of the red shifts were less well constrained

In-Flight Performance of the Virgo Solar Irradiance Instruments on Soho

Abstract: The in-flight performance of the total and spectral irradiance instruments within VIRGO (Variability of solar IRradiance and Gravity Oscillations) on the ESA/NASA Mission SOHO (SOlar and Heliospheric observatory) is in most aspects better than expected. The behaviour during the first year of operation of the two types of radiometers and the sunphotometers together with a description of their data evaluation procedures is presented.

Radio Observations of Gyroresonance Emission from Coronal Magnetic Fields

Abstract: We review the basic characteristics of thermal gyroresonance (also known as cyclotron) emission from solar active regions, and show how radio observations combined with our understanding of the basic mechanism can reveal much of the magnetic and thermal structure of the corona over active regions.

First View of the Extended Green-Line Emission Corona at Solar Activity Minimum Using the LASCO-C1 Coronagraph on SOHO

Abstract: The newly developed C1 coronagraph as part of the Large-Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph (LASCO) on board the SOHO spacecraft has been operating since January 29, 1996. We present observations obtained in the first three months of operation. The green-line emission corona can be made visible throughout the instrument's full field of view, i.e., from 1.1 R⊙ out to 3.2 R⊙ (measured from Sun center). Quantitative evaluations based on calibrations cannot yet be performed, but some basic signatures show up even now: (1) There are often bright and apparently closed loop systems centered at latitudes of 30° to 45° in both hemispheres. Their helmet-like extensions are bent towards the equatorial plane. Farther out, they merge into one large equatorial ‘streamer sheet’ clearly discernible out to 32 R⊙. (2) At mid latitudes a more diffuse pattern is usually visible, well separated from the high-latitude loops and with very pronounced variability. (3) All high-latitude structures remain stable on time scales of several days, and no signature of transient disruption of high-latitude streamers was observed in these early data. (4) Within the first 4 months of observation, only one single ‘fast’ feature was observed moving outward at a speed of 70 km s-1 close to the equator. Faster events may have escaped attention because of data gaps. (5) The centers of high-latitude loops are usually found at the positions of magnetic neutral lines in photospheric magnetograms. The large-scale streamer structure follows the magnetic pattern fairly precisely. Based on our observations we conclude that the shape and stability of the heliospheric current sheet at solar activity minimum are probably due to high-latitude streamers rather than to the near-equatorial activity belt.

A Manifestation of Negative Energy Waves in the Solar Atmosphere

Abstract: Magnetosonic modes of magnetic structures of the solar atmosphere in the presence of inhomogeneous steady flows are considered. It is shown that, when the speed of the steady flow exceeds the phase speed of one of the modes, the mode has negative energy, and can be subject to an over-stability due to the negative energy wave instabilities. It is shown that registered steady flows in the solar atmosphere, with speeds below the threshold of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, can provide the existence of the magnetosonic negative energy wave phenomena. In particular, in isolated photospheric magnetic flux tubes, there are kink surface modes with negative energy, produced by the external granulation downflows. Dissipative instability of these modes due to finite thermal conductivity and explosive instability due to nonlinear coupling of these modes with Alfven waves are discussed. For coronal loops, it is found that only very high-speed flows (>300 km s-1) can produce negative energy slow body modes. In solar wind flow structures, both slow and fast body modes have negative energy and are unstable.

Measurements of Frequencies of Solar Oscillations from the Mdi Medium-l Program

Abstract: Inversions of solar internal stiucture employ both the frequencies and the associated uncertainties of the solar oscillation modes as input parameters. In this paper we inVestigate how systematic errors in these input parameters may affect the resulting inferences of the sun’s internal structure. Such systematic errors are likely to arise from inaccuracies in the theoretical models which are used to represent the spectral lines in the observational power spectra, from line blending, from asymmetries in the proiles of these lines, and from other factors. In order to study such systematic effects we have employed two different duration observing runs (one of 60 days and the second of 144 days) obtained with the Medium-I Program of the Michelson Doppler Imager experiment onboard the SOHO spacecraft. This observing program provides continuous observations of solar oscillation modes having angular degrees, I, ranging from 0 to ∼ 300. For this study intermediate-and high-degree p-mode oscillations having degrees less than 251 were employed.

High-Resolution Observations of the Extreme Ultraviolet Sun

Abstract: TMs paper presents first results of the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) recently launched aboard the Sol, and Heliospheric observatory (SOHO) CDS is a twin spectrometer, operating in the extreme ultraviolet range 151-785 A Thus, it can detect emission lines from trace elements in the corona and transition region which will be used to provide diagnostic information on the solar atmosphere In this paper, we present early spectra and images, to illustrate the performance of the instrument and to pave the way for future studies

AN ‘EXTENDED SOLAR CYCLE’ AS OBSERVED IN Fe XIV

Abstract: Investigation of the behavior of coronal intensity above the limb in Fexiv emission (530.3 nm) obtained at the National Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak over the last 23 years has resulted in the confirmation of a second set of zones of solar activity at high latitudes, separate from the Main Activity Zones (MAZ). Localized high-latitude intensity maxima, which I will call High-latitude Emission Features (HEF), are observed at 0.15 solar radii above the limb throughout the solar cycle. They persist long enough at a given latitude to be visible in long-term (e.g., annual) averages. I identify two types of HEF. Poleward-moving HEF, which may be identified with the ‘Rush to the Poles’ phenomenon seen in polar-crown prominences, were first seen to appear in this investigation near latitude 60° in 1978. In 1979 equatorward-moving HEF branched off from the poleward-moving HEF (which continued on to reach the pole in 1980) at a latitude of 70° to 80°. They evolved approximately parallel to the MAZ. Near solar minimum, these HEF evolved into the MAZ of cycle 22, and the emission continues its path towards the equator, where it should disappear soon. Currently, it is clear that the pattern seen earlier is repeating. The poleward-moving HEF became apparent near the beginning of 1988 near 50° to 60° latitude. The northern poleward-moving HEF reached the pole and disappeared in 1990. The southern poleward-moving HEF moved more slowly, reaching the pole and disappearing in 1991. The equatorward-moving HEF that are the precursors of cycle 23 appeared in 1989 to 1990 and began to move approximately parallel to the MAZ of cycle 22. Based on inferences from previous cycles, we can expect these HEF to continue to the equator, with emission ceasing there near 2009. These recent observations increase the evidence for an ‘extended’ solar cycle that begins every 11 years but lasts for approximately 19–20 years.

Performance and Early Results from the GOLF Instrument Flown on the SOHO Mission

Abstract: GOLF in-flight commissioning and calibration was carried out during the first four months, most of which represented the cruise phase of SOHO towards its final LI orbit. The initial performance of GOLF is shown to be within the design specification, for the entire instrument as well as for the separate sub-systems. Malfunctioning of the polarising mechanisms after 3 to 4 months operation has led to the adoption of an unplanned operating sequence in which these mechanisms are no longer used. This mode, which measures only the blue wing of the solar sodium lines, detracts little from the detection and frequency measurements of global oscillations, but does make more difficult the absolute velocity calibration, which is currently of the order of 20%. Data continuity in the new mode is extremely high and the instrument is producing exceptionally noise-free p-mode spectra. The data set is particularly well suited to the study of effects due to the excitation mechanism of the modes, leading to temporal variations in their amplitudes. The g modes have not yet been detected in this limited data set. In the present mode of operation, there are no indications of any degradation which would limit the use of GOLF for up to 6 years or more.

EVIDENCE OF MAGNETIC RECONNECTION FROM Hα, SOFT X-RAY AND PHOTOSPHERIC MAGNETIC FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Abstract: A conventional view of magnetic reconnection is mainly based on the 2-D picture of an X-type neutral point, or on the extension of it to 3-D, and it is thought to be accompanied by flux transport across separatrices (places where the field-line mapping is discontinuous) This view is too restrictive when we realize the variety of configurations that are seen flaring We designed an algorithm, called Source Method (SM), to determine the magnetic topology of active regions (ARs) The observed photospheric field was extrapolated to the corona using subphotospheric sources and the topology was defined by the link between these sources Hα flare brightenings were found to be located at the intersection with the chromosphere of the separatrices so defined These results and the knowledge we gained on the properties of magnetic field-line linkage, led us to generalize the concept of separatrices to ‘quasi-separatrix layers’ (QSLs) and to design a new method (‘quasi-separatrix layers method’, QSLM) to determine the magnetic topology of ARs QSLs are regions where the magnetic field-line linkage changes drastically (discontinuously when they behave like separatrices) and the QSLM can be applied to ARs where the photospheric field has been extrapolated using any kind of technique In this paper we apply the QSLM to observed flaring regions presenting very different configurations and also to a decaying AR where a minor phenomenon, like an X-ray bright point (XBP), is observed We find that the locations of flare and XBP brightenings are related to the properties of the field-line linkage of the underlying magnetic region, as expected from recent developments of 3-D magnetic reconnection The extrapolated coronal field lines representing the structures involved in the analyzed events have their photospheric footpoints located at both sides of QSLs Our results strongly support the hypothesis that magnetic reconnection is at work in various coronal phenomena, ranging from the less energetic ones to large-scale eruptions

Bursts of explosive events in the solar network

Abstract: Observations of the quiet-Sun network in the UV emission line Siiv 1393 A over a time period of two hours are presented. Bursts of explosive events, highly Doppler-shifted emission, seem to be sporadically emitted from the brighter regions of the network lanes. Individual events have typical lifetimes of ≈ 1–6 min and come in bursts of up to 30 min. The most spectacular burst in this dataset, shown in the accompanying movie, lasts ≈ 30 min and shows a wide variety of line profiles with both red and blue shifts ≈180 km s1. There appears to be no characteristic form or evolutionary pattern to the line profiles in either the individual events or series of events. There are about twice as many blue shifts as red shifts.