The brightness distribution of the sun at 2.8cm wavelength

Abstract

Maps of the Sun at 2.8 cm wavelength, observed with the 100-m telescope in Effelsberg, on 1972, October 31 and 1973, February 10, are discussed. The brightness distribution over the Sun is, with the exception of active regions, approximately constant and nearly sharp-edged. Regions of small enhancements in the radiation can be identified with zones of weak activity in the solar magnetograms. Optical filaments could also be seen in absorption at 2.8 cm wavelength, the optical depth being of the order of 0.2. Several active regions have been analysed with respect to their position relative to their optical counterparts and to their brightness temperature: The latter was found to reach almost 10⁶K in one case. No noticeable limb brightening could be observed; if any exists, it should be smaller than 5%. Likewise no noticeable elliptical deformation of the Sun's disk could be found. The geometrical thickness of the coronal layer, contributing to the undisturbed radiation at 2.8 cm was estimated to be a maximum of 4000 km.