Characteristics of gamma-ray line flares

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:6593519

Bai, T; Dennis, B

Observations of solar gamma rays by the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) demonstrate that energetic protons and ions are rapidly accelerated during the impulsive phase. To understand the acceleration mechanisms for these particles, the characteristics of the gamma ray line flares observed by SMM were studied. Some very intense hard X-ray flares without detectable gamma ray lines were also investigated. Gamma ray line flares are distinguished from other flares by: (1) inense hard X-ray and microwave emissions, (2) delay of high energy hard X-rays, (3) emission of type 2 and/or type 4 radio bursts, and (4) flat hard X-ray spectra (average power law index: 3.1). The majority of the gamma ray line flares shared all these characteristics, and the remainder shared at least three of them. Positive correlations were found between durations of spike bursts and spatial sizes of flare loops as well as between delay times and durations of spike bursts.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD (USA). Goddard Space Flight Center
• OSTI ID: 6593519
• Report Number(s): N-84-14098; NASA-CR-174608
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BARYONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
GAMMA RADIATION
HADRONS
HEAVY IONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IONS
NUCLEONS
PROTONS
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR FLARES
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR PROTONS
SOLAR RADIATION
SOLAR RADIO BURSTS
STELLAR RADIATION
X RADIATION