Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Electromagnetic radiation and particle
emissions from the sun
Instructor: Asebe Oljira Geleta Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 LectureSpace
2; AsebePhysics I
Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Outline
1 Radiowave emissions from the sun
Sunspots and the solar cycle
2 Particle emissions from the sun
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Introduction
The Sun
Flares occur above the places in the photosphere with largest
∇×B .
These are the locations where the electric current has a
maximum.
The most short-lived phenomenon observed from Earth on the
solar surface is the flare event.
It lasts usually from a few minutes to a few hours.
Its occurrence is defined by a sudden brightening of theHLα
line, and it is usually accompanied by enhanced X-ray
emissions.
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Electromagnetic radiation from the Sun
The electromagnetic radiation from a quiet Sun is to be
explained as thermal radiation from the corona and the solar
atmosphere.
The variations in these background emissions from X-rays to
radiowaves and follow the 27-day recurrence tendency
corresponding to the rotation period of the Sun.
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Radiowave emissions at 10.7 cm (2,800 MHz).
the emission at X-rays between 0.8 and 1.2 nm
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Sunspots
Sunspots consist of dark central regions, called umbra and a
surrounding less dark filamentary region called penumbra.
The umbral diameter is about 10,000 km but for the largest
spots may exceed 20,000 km and its temperature is about
4,000 K, whereas the temperature of the solar surface is
about 6 000 K.
Penumbral diameters are in the range of 10 000-15 000 km..
Radiation can finally emerge as visible radiation characteristics
of the solar surface.
As it moves outward from the core, the temperature, density,
and pressure drop.
The acceleration gΘ , due to gravity at the solar surface is
about 2.7 × 102 sm2 .
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
R. Wolf (1816-1893) studied all available records and derived
an estimate for the sunspot cycle.
In 1848 he introduced the relative (Zurich) sunspot
number Rz as a measure for solar activity.
Rz = k(10g + f ) (1)
where f is number of spots and g number of groups counted
over the entire solar disk and k is personal reduction factor.
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Figure : Multitemporal variations of Sunspots and its 11-year
cycle[Asebe, 2016,Unpuplished]
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Figure : The Solar cycle 24 [Asebe, 2016,Unpuplished]
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Particle Emissions from the Sun
A Sun radiates not only electromagnetic waves, but also
particles.
This particle is called a solar wind, which is always blowing
and its velocity as well as density varies .
Its velocity varies from 400 km/s-700km/s.
The solar wind particle density (n) can vary between
106 − 2 × 107 m−3
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Solar Wind
The solar wind or interplanetary medium is a fully ionized,
electrically neutral plasma that carries a magnetic field and
streams outward from the inner solar corona at all times.
The wind is highly variable in both time and space and
fills the interstellar region in the vicinity of the sun.
The average particle flux from the Sun can then be estimated
to
φ = n.v ≈ 2 × 1012 m−2 s −1 (2)
Total average particle loss per unit time from the Sun is
2
Ṅ = 4πRΘ .φ ≈ 1.23 × 1031 s −1 (3)
where RΘ is the solar radius.
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
One of the characteristic parameters of the solar wind is the
speed of sound of the solar wind gas which can be
approximated as
s
kTΘ
cs = γ = 1.17 × 104 m/s, (4)
mp
where γ is the adiabatic constant equal to 5/3 for a
monoatomic gas and TΘ is set equal to 104 K.
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Figure : The solar wind parameters measurements from space
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Figure : Electron, proton and alpha from GOES[ Asebe,2019,
Unpuplished]
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
The field winds up because of the rotation of the sun.
Fields in low speed wind will be more wound up than those in
high speed wind ( Parker,1963).
Figure : The configuration of the interplanetary magnetic field in the
equatorial plane for a steady solar wind.
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
The next figure shows the cartoon of a solar eruption that
happened in the Western limb of the Sun that happens to be
magnetically connected to Earth.
Figure : Sun-Earth magnetical connection and accelerated particles
movement following the Parkers spiral before reaching Earth.(
Boubrahimi et al,2017)
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
For the accelerated particles to reach Earth, a Sun-Earth
magnetic connection needs to exist that allows the particles to
flow to Earth via the Parker spiral.
Solar energetic particles(SEP) are a result of intense solar
events such as solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections
(CMEs).
They can cause major disruptions to spacecraft that are in
Earth’s orbit and outside of the magnetosphere.
A high exposure to large solar particles events can deliver
critical doses to human organs and may damage the
instruments on board of satellites and the global
positioning system (GPS) due to the risk of saturation.
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
A magnetosphere is that area of space, around a planet, that
is controlled by the planet’s magnetic field.
The shape of the Earth’s magnetosphere is the direct result of
being blasted by solar wind.
Figure : Earth’s Magnetosphere
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
The solar wind compresses its sunward side to a distance of
only 6 to 10 times the radius of the Earth.
A supersonic shock wave is created sunward of Earth called
the Bow Shock.
Most of the solar wind particles are heated and slowed at the
bow shock and detour around the Earth in the
Magnetosheath.
The solar wind drags out the night-side magnetosphere to
possibly 1000 times Earth’s radius; its exact length is not
known.
This extension of the magnetosphere is known as the
Magnetotail.
The Earth’s magnetosphere is a highly dynamic structure
that responds dramatically to solar variations.
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Since the conductivity of the solar wind is extremely high,
there is essentially no diffusion of the plasma transverse to the
magnetic field.
The field is said to be “frozen in” to the flow.
The plasma carries the field with it into space.
The frozen-in magnetic field concept can be one of the useful
concept in understanding plasma flow in the solar wind,
magnetosphere, and upper ionosphere.
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
Figure : An illustration of the frozen-in field concept. (a) A magnetic
field B is assumed to be penetrating a region of highly conducting
plasma. (b) When the plasma starts to move, the magnetic field lines will
be frozen-in and follow the motion of the plasma. (c) A highly conducting
plasma is approaching an area of the magnetic field. (d) Due to the high
conductivity the field cannot penetrate the plasma.[Brekke,2013]
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
For conducting fluid the current density can be given by
j0 = σE0 (5)
where j0 and E0 are currents and electric fields in the frame
moving with the plasma.
From another frame of reference where the plasma is moving
with velocity v, the electric field (E) can be given by
E = E0 − v × B (6)
The current, however, is conserved, j0 = j, and so is the
magnetic field, B = B0 , if the velocity is small enough
(v c).
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
Radiowave emissions from the sun Particle emissions from the sun
From Ohm’s law,
j = σE0 (7)
⇒ j = σ(E + v × B) (8)
j
=⇒ E + v × B = (9)
σ
Notice that when σ , approaching infinty
=⇒ E = −v × B (10)
which is the so-called frozen-in condition implying that no
current is flowing in the medium.
Wollega University
Space Physics I, Wollega University, July 2019 Lecture 2; Asebe Oljira Geleta(assebegeleta@yahoo.com)
