Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relative timing of solar flares observed at different wavelengths

  • Published:
Solar Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The timing of 503 solar flares observed simultaneously in hard X-rays, soft X-rays and Hα is analyzed. We investigated the start and the peak time differences in different wavelengths, as well as the differences between the end of the hard X-ray emission and the maximum of the soft X-ray and Hα emission. In more than 90% of the analyzed events, a thermal pre-heating seen in soft X-rays is present prior to the impulsive flare phase. On average, the soft X-ray emission starts 3 min before the hard X-ray and the Hα emission. No correlation between the duration of the pre-heating phase and the importance of the subsequent flare is found. Furthermore, the duration of the pre-heating phase does not differ for impulsive and gradual flares. For at least half of the events, the end of the non-thermal emission coincides well with the maximum of the thermal emission, consistent with the beam-driven evaporation model. On the other hand, for ∼ 25% of the events there is strong evidence for prolonged evaporation beyond the end of the hard X-rays. For these events, the presence of an additional energy transport mechanism, most probably thermal conduction, seems to play an important role.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Antonucci, E., Gabriel, A. H., and Dennis, B. R.: 1984, Astrophys. J. 287, 917.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, E., Alexander, D., Culhane, J. L., de Jager, C., MacNeice, P., Somov, B. V., and Zarro, D.: 1999, in K. T. Strong, J. L. R. Saba, B. M. Haisch, and J. T. Schmelz (eds.), The Many Faces of the Sun: A Summary of the Results from NASA's Solar Maximum Mission, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Chapt. 10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aschwanden, M. J.: 1996, Astrophys. J. 470, L69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benz, A. O.: 1995, in A. O. Benz and A. Krüger (eds.), Coronal Magnetic Energy Release, Lecture Notes in Physics 444, 1.

  • Brown, J. C.: 1971, Solar Phys. 18, 489.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crosby, N. B., Vilmer, N., Lund, N., and Sunyaev, R.: 1998, Astron. Astrophys. 334, 299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Czaykowska, A., Alexander, D., and de Pontieu, B.: 2001, Astrophys. J. 552, 849.

    Google Scholar 

  • Datlowe, D. W., Hudson, H. S., and Peterson, L.: 1974, Solar Phys. 35, 193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, B. R.: 1988, Solar Phys. 118, 49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, B. R.: 1991, in Y. Uchida, R. C. Canfield, T. Watanabe, and E. Hiei (eds.), Flare Physics in Solar Activity Maximum 22, Lecture Notes in Physics 387, 89.

  • Donelly, R. F. and Unzicker, A.: 1974, NOAA Tech. Memo ELR SEL-72.

  • Doschek, G. A., Antiochos, S. K., Antonucci, E., Cheng, C.-C., Culhane, J. L., Fisher, G. H. et al.: 1989, in M. R. Kundu, B. Woodgate, and E. J. Schmahl (eds.), Energetic Phenomena on the Sun, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Astrophysics and Space Science Library, Vol. 153, Chapt. 4.

  • Emslie, A. G. and Brown, J. C.: 1985, Astrophys. J. 395, 648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emslie, A. G., Li, P., and Mariska, J. T.: 1992, Astrophys. J. 339, 714.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emslie, A. G., Hénoux, J.-C., Mariska, J. T., and Newton, E. K.: 1996, Astrophys. J. 470, L131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falciani, R., Giordano, M., Rigutti, M., and Roberti, G.: 1977, Solar Phys. 54, 169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fárník, F. and Savy, S. K.: 1998, Solar Phys. 183, 339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fárník, F., Hudson, H., and Watanabe, T.: 1996, Solar Phys. 165, 169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, U.: 1990, Astrophys. J. 364, 322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, G. H., Canfield, R. C., and McClymont, A. N.: 1985, Astrophys. J. 289, 425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishman, G. J., Meegan, C. A., Wilson, R. B., Parnell, T. A., Paciesas, W. S., Pendleton, G. N. et al.: 1989, in Max '91 Workshop 2: Developments in Observations and Theory for Solar Cycle 22, p. 96.

  • Fishman, G. J., Meegan, C. A., Wilson, R. B., Paciesas, W. S., and Pendleton, G. N.: 1992, in The Compton Observatory Science Workshop, NASA CP-3137, p. 26.

  • Gaizauskas, V.: 1989, in B. M. Haisch and M. Rodonò (eds.), 'Solar and Stellar Flares', IAU Colloq. 104, 135.

  • Garcia, H. A.: 1994, Solar Phys. 154, 275.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinzel, P.: 1991, Solar Phys. 135, 65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heristchi, D.: 1986, Astrophys. J. 311, 474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heyvaerts, J., Priest, E. R., and Rust, D. M.: 1977, Astrophys. J. 216, 123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahler, S. W.: 1979, Solar Phys. 62, 347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kämpfer, N. and Magun, A.: 1983, Astrophys. J. 274, 910.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlický, M., Brown, J. C., Conway, A. J., and Penny, G.: 2000, Astron. Astrophys. 353, 729.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitahara, T. and Kurokawa, H.: 1990, Solar Phys. 125, 321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurokawa, H., Takakura, T., and Ohki, K.: 1988, Astron. Soc. Japan Publ. 40, 357.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, H.-W., Pallavicini, R., and Cheng, C.: 1987, Solar Phys. 107, 271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, P., Emslie, A. G., and Mariska, J. T.: 1989, Astrophys. J. 341, 1075.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, P., Emslie, A. G., and Mariska, J. T.: 1993, Astrophys. J. 417, 313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Machado, M. E., Orwig, L. E., and Antonucci, E.: 1986, Adv. Space Res. 6, 101.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, L., Harra-Murnion, L. K., and Culhane, J. L.: 1999, Solar Phys. 185, 323.

    Google Scholar 

  • McTiernan, J. M., Fisher, G. H., and Li, P.: 1999, Astrophys. J. 514, 472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton, E.: 1997, Astrophys. J. 484, 455.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, K. J. H.: 1991, Vistas Astron. 34, 353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plunkett, S. P. and Simnett, G. M.: 1994, Solar Phys. 155, 351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rust, D. M., Simnett, G. M., and Smith, D. F.: 1985, Astrophys. J. 288, 401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmahl, E. J., Webb, D. F., Woodgate, B., Waggett, P., Bentley, R., Hurford, A. et al.: 1989, in M. R. Kundu, B. Woodgate, and E. J. Schmahl (eds.), Energetic Phenomena on the Sun,Kluwer Academic Publishers, Astrophysics and Space Science Library, Vol. 153, Chapt. 1.4.

  • Schmieder, B., Malherbe, J. M., Simnett, G. M., Forbes, T. G., and Tandberg-Hanssen, E.: 1990, Astrophys. J. 356, 720.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, R.A., Dennis, B.R., Fishman, G.J., Meegan, C.A., Wilson, R.B.,and Paciesas, W.S.: 1992, The Compton Observatory Science Workshop, NASA CP-3137, p. 457.

  • Simnett, G. M.: 1986, Solar Phys. 106, 165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simnett, G. M.: 1995, Space Sci. Rev. 73, 387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simnett, G. M. and Haines, M. G.: 1990, Solar Phys. 130, 253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somov, B. V.: 1992, Physical Processes in Solar Flares, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Astrophysics and Space Science Library, Vol. 172.

  • Švestka, Z.: 1976, Solar Flares, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Geophysics and Astrophysics Monographs, Vol. 8.

  • Tappin S. J.: 1991, Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. 87, 277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, R. J. and Teske, R. G.: 1971, Solar Phys. 16, 431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trottet, G., Rolli, E., Magun, A., Barat, C., Kuznetsov, A., Sunyaev, R., and Terekhov, O.: 2000, Astron. Astrophys. 356, 1067.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verma, V. K. and Pande, M. C.: 1985a, Bull. Astron. Soc. India 13, 148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verma, V. K. and Pande, M. C.: 1985b, Solar Phys. 97, 107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veronig, A., Vršnak, B., Temmer, M., Magdalenić, J., and Hanslmeier, A.: 2001, Hvar Obs. Bull. 25, 39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veronig, A., Vršnak, B., Dennis, B. R., Temmer, M., Hanslmeier, A., and Magdalenić, J.: 2002a, Astron. Astrophys., submitted.

  • Veronig, A., Temmer, M., Hanslmeier, A., Otruba, W., and Messerotti, M.: 2002b, in H. Sawaya-Lacoste (ed.), Proceedings of the 2nd SOLSPA Euroconference: Solar Cycle and Space Weather, ESA SP-477, in press.

  • Veronig, A., Temmer, M., Hanslmeier, A., Otruba, W., and Messerotti, M.: 2002c, Astron. Astrophys. 382, 1070.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vršnak, B.: 1989, Solar Phys. 20, 79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, D. F.: 1983, American Science and Engineering Technical Report, AFGL-TR-83-0126.

  • Wülser, J. P. and Marti, H.: 1989, Astrophys. J. 341, 1088.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarro, D. and Lemen, J.: 1988, Astrophys. J. 329, 456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zirin, H., Feldman, U., Doschek, G. A., and Kane, S.: 1981, Astrophys. J. 246, 321.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Geophysics, Astrophysics and Meteorology, University of Graz, Russia

    A. Veronig, M. Temmer & A. Hanslmeier

  2. Hvar Observatory, Faculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb, Kačićeva 26, oHR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    B. Vršnak

Authors
  1. A. Veronig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. Vršnak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Temmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Hanslmeier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Veronig, A., Vršnak, B., Temmer, M. et al. Relative timing of solar flares observed at different wavelengths. Solar Physics 208, 297–315 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020563804164

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020563804164

Keywords

Search

Navigation