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Kinematics of Solar Flares

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Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 3))

Abstract

The occurrence of high velocity motions in flares and the chromosphere constitutes one of the most important problems of solar physics. One method of acquiring data on transverse or horizontal motions in the solar atmosphere is by means of high time-resolution ( ∼ 10 sec) monochromatic cinematography. Results of a study employing this technique indicate that flares fall into two distinct categories. Most flares are characterized by gradual brightening to maximum intensity, and slow (∼ 10 km/sec) expansion of the flare borders. Flares in this group commonly initiate the flare-surge event, i.e., ejection of matter in a brush-like shape, with a typical velocity of around 150 km/sec. Flares of the second category are less frequent than the former, but they are characterized by more violent development and usually exhibit a distinct acceleration phase in their rise to maximum intensity and area. The flare expansion is often in a preferred direction with a velocity ∼ 100 km/sec. In a significant number of cases, extensive cloud or wave-like disturbances are ejected at this “explosive” phase. These disturbances are observed to propagate over distances as great as a solar radius, with a characteristic velocity ∼ 1000 km/sec. The fact that Type-III and centimetric radio bursts are closely associated with the explosive phase may imply that this phase is the relevant time for the major energy release and particle acceleration processes in the flare region. Furthermore, the fact that all eight high energy (> 20 keV) X-ray events measured by rocket and ballon experiments are explosive-phase flares lends support to this suggestion, and emphasizes their geophysical consequences.

This research is supported by the National Science Foundation and the Lockheed Basic Science Laboratory.

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© 1965 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Moreton, G.E. (1965). Kinematics of Solar Flares. In: Chang, C.C., Huang, S.S. (eds) Proceedings of the Plasma Space Science Symposium. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7542-5_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7542-5_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-7544-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-7542-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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