Hale COLLAGE 2017 Lecture 21

Radiative processes from energetic

particles II: Gyromagnetic radiation

Bin Chen (New Jersey Institute of Technology)

 Previous lectures
1) Magnetic reconnection and
energy release
2) Particle acceleration and heating
3) Chromospheric evaporation, loop
e- magnetic heating and cooling
reconnection

Following lectures:
How to diagnose the
e- accelerated particles and
the environment?
• What?
• Where? How?
Shibata et al. 1995 • When?
 Outline
• Radiation from energetic particles
• Bremsstrahlung à Previous lecture
• Gyromagnetic radiation (“magnetobremsstrahlung”)
à This lecture
• Other radiative processes à Briefly in the next lecture
• Coherent radiation, inverse Compton, nuclear processes
• Suggested reading:
• Synchrotron radiation: Chapter 5 of “Essential Radio Astronomy”
by Condon & Ransom 2016
• Gyroresonance radiation: Chapter 5 of Gary & Keller 2004
• Gyrosynchrotron radiation: Dulk & Marsh 1982
• Next two lectures: Diagnosing flare energetic particles
using radio and hard X-ray imaging spectroscopy
Radiation from an accelerated charge
Larmor'formulae:'radia5on'from'an'accelerated'charge''
Larmor'formulae:'radia5on'from'an'accelerated'charge''

2
dP q
dP = q 23 a 2 sin 2q 2 2q 2
Larmor formula: 2
2 θ2
2
P =P =3 a a 2
dΩ =4 πc 3 a sin θ 3c 3
dΩ 4 πc 3c
Rela5vis5c'Larmor'formulae''
Relativistic Larmor formula:
Rela5vis5c'Larmor'formulae''
€ €
€ € θ"
θ"

Cases'relevant'to'radio'and'HXR/gammaAray'emission:''

Accelera2on#experienced#in#the#Coulomb#field:'bremsstrahlung'
Cases'relevant'to'radio'and'HXR/gammaAray'emission:''
Radio and HXR/gammy-ray emission in flares:
Accelera2on#experience#in#a#magne2c#field:#gyromagne5c'radia5on'
• Acceleration experienced in the Coulomb field: bremsstrahlung
Accelera2on#experienced#in#the#Coulomb#field:'bremsstrahlung'
• Acceleration experienced in a magnetic field: gyromagnetic radiation
Accelera2on#experience#in#a#magne2c#field:#gyromagne5c'radia5on
 Gyromagnetic radiation
• Gyromagnetic radiation
(sometimes called
“gyroemission”) is due to
the acceleration
experienced by an electron
as it gyrates in a B field due
to the Lorentz force.
• Acceleration is
perpendicular to 𝑣"
Gyroemission from a single electron
Larmor'formulae:'radia5on'from'an'accelerated'charge''
• Let’s start from Larmor’s formula:
dP q2 2 2 2q 2 2
= 3 a sin θ P= 3a
dΩ 4 πc 3c
• Perpendicular acceleration: 𝑎$ = 𝜔'" 𝑣$ , where 𝜔'" is the
Rela5vis5c'Larmor'formulae''
(angular) electron gyrofrequency
€ "+
𝜔'" = 2𝜋𝜈'"€ = ≈ θ"2𝜋 / 2.8𝐵 MHz
,- '
• (Direction integrated) Larmor’s equation becomes:
2𝑒 5 5 5
𝑃 = 8 𝜔'" 𝑣$
3𝑐
• Relativistic case:
Cases'relevant'to'radio'and'HXR/gammaAray'emission:''
5" 9 < 5 5 "+ >?-
𝑃 = : 𝛾 𝜔+ 𝑣$ , with 𝜔+ = =
Accelera2on#experienced#in#the#Coulomb#field:'bremsstrahlung'
8' =,- ' =
Accelera2on#experience#in#a#magne2c#field:#gyromagne5c'radia5on'
 Radiation pattern: non-relativistic
Larmor'formulae:'radia5on'from'an'accelerated'charge''
• Larmor’s Equation
dP q2 2 2 2q 2 2
= 3 a sin θ P= 3a
dΩ 4 πc 3c

Rela5vis5c'Larmor'formulae''
€ € Null at 𝜃 = 0
θ"

Dipole pattern
𝜃
Observer
Cases'relevant'to'radio'and'HXR/gammaAray'emission:''
 Radiation pattern: relativistic
• Relativistic case (𝛾 ≫ 1)
• In the rest frame of the electron

𝑑𝑃E 𝑞5 5 5 E
E
= 8
𝒂 sin 𝜃
𝑑Ω 4𝜋𝑐

• In the observer’s frame, radiation pattern found from

Lorentz transform from the electron rest frame

Null occurs at 𝜃 = ± arccos 1/𝛾 Observer

Strongly beamed forward along

the direction of the electron!
 Relativistic gyroemission:
ould be noted that the factor ( 1 - v / c ) is the same one that enters the
ler effect [cf. 34.11. Since y>>l. we have

at
sharply pulsed radiation
170 Synchrotron Radhtion
-I
A t ” ~ ( y ~ ~ , s i n a. ) (6.10b)

fore, the width of the observed pulses is smaller than the gyration
d by a factor y 3 . The pulse is shown in Fig. 6.3. From our general
ssion of spectra associated with particular pulses, 02.3, we expect that
pectrum will be fairly broad, cutting off at frequencies like l / A t A . If
fine a critical frequency

3 y -3w , sina
a,.E - (6.1 la)
2

v c = - 3y 3
w,sina, (6.1 lb)
47
Figurn 6.2 Emission cones at variouS points of anW accelerated Wparticle's
trajectory. f U ∆𝑡 ∝ =
=: >X =9 >?-

the direction of observation. The distance As along the path can be

computed from the radius of curvature of the path, a =As/AB.
From the geometry we have A0 =W2/y, so that As = ∆𝑡2 Ua /=
y . 𝑡Butend
the of pulse − 𝑡 start of pulse
radius
∆𝑡follows
of curvature of the path U ∝ from ? ∆𝑥 𝑥 − ∆𝑥 𝑥 ∆𝑥 𝑣 ∆𝑥
=> the equation of motion
X = + − = 1− ≪ = ∆𝑡
𝑣 𝑐 𝑐 𝑣 𝑐 𝑣
y m -AV = -4v x B ,
At c
Power spectrum 𝑃(𝜈)
• For a nonrelativistic electron, radiation field 𝐸 𝑡 is
a sinusoid with frequency 𝜔'"
• Power spectrum is a single tone at the electron
gyrofrequency
Power spectrum 𝑃(𝜈)
• As the electron speed picks up, mild beaming effect
takes place, 𝐸 𝑡 is non-sinusoidal
• Low harmonics of electron gyrofrequency show up
in the power spectrum

Can you identify two effects

in the 𝐸 𝑡 plot?
 Power spectrum 𝑃(𝜈)
184 Synchrotron Radiation
184 Synchrotron Radiation
t..(r) +
+
• When the electron is t..(r)

relativistic 𝐸 𝑡 is
highly pulsed
bJ

Figrrre 6lOa Time depmrdence of electricfwiV from a q & ' y mooing parti& bJ
in a magnetic field (synchrotron radiation).
Figrrre 6lOa Time depmrdence of electricfwiV from a q & ' y mooing par
in a magnetic field (synchrotron radiation).

• The power spectrum

shows contribution from
many harmonics

F i p w 6106 Power spectrum for a.

Types of gyromagnetic radiation
• Gyromagnetic radiation behaves very differently with
different electron distributions
• A precise general expression valid for all electron energies is
not available. Instead, we use approximate expressions for
various electron energy regimes

v Non-relativistic or thermal (𝛾 − 1 ≪ 1):

Gyroresonance or cyclotron radiation Thermal
v Mildly relativistic (𝛾 − 1~1 − 5):
Gyrosynchrotron radiation
v Ultra-relativistic (𝛾 − 1 ≫ 1):
Synchrotron radiation Non-thermal
 Thermal gyroresonance radiation
• At a given B, thermal gyroresonance radiation is
essentially a “spectral line” centered
Figiin? 6% at
Time𝑠𝜈 '" , where
depednce of electric field from a pa
wfoci@in a magnetic jieU
𝑠 = 1, 2, 3 … is the harmonic number
• Particularly relevant above active regions at
microwave frequencies – Why?
• Spectral width of a given resonance line
mX n
∆𝜈/𝑠𝜈'" ≈
,- ' 9
Very narrow in the corona (~1/3000)
(h)
• High opacity only at these “resonance layers”
Figiin? 69b Power spectrum for a

physical broadening mechanism occurs for a distrib

 Thermal gyroresonance opacity
• Two different wave modes: ordinary
SOLAR AND SPACE WEATHER RADIOPHYSICS
(o mode) and
extraordinary (x mode, gyrates with the same sense
of through
t integrated One,charged,par.cle,in,B,
rotation as an
the layer) as aelectron)
function of the frequency ∫, the
number s (which determines ∫B = ∫/s and hence B in the layer),
ngle µ between the magnetic
, field, directiongyrofrequency:,
, q,,m, and the line of sight:

B' , , qB
94 , , v µ, Ω∂= = 2 π fc
ne LB (µ) s2 SOLAR s2 sinAND
2 c SPACE
µ mc WEATHER
s°1 RADIOPHYSICS
(s, ∫, µ) = .0133
, , ∫r , , s! , 2 µ $ Fx,o (µ) # (5.1)
B &
coefficient integrated through the layer)e s:,
g as a function
Ω ce = 2 ×10 9
of the frequency
rad/s % ( ∫, the
$ 100 G '
harmonic number s (which determines ∫B = @B ∫/s and hence B in the layer),
(µ) is the scale length , of the magnetic
,
, the magnetic field (B/ @l ) evaluated along
and the angle µ between field direction
gyroradius:, and really,fast,
the line of sight:
f sight. For simplicity we have set the refractive index to be unity in
Opacity
µ) is a•function forwhich
of angle twois different
of order unityv wave for the xmodes
mode near
really,small,
, but decreases sharply at smaller µ, and rgµ= 2 in 2the∂
iss2smaller
⊥
ne± L B (µ) sΩc sin µ os°1 mode than
mode. At (s, ∫, µµ)away
øx,oangles = .0133
from 90 it is often approximated by Fx,o−1(µ) (5.1)
∫ s! 2µ 1/2
! B $ ! ε $ Which mode has a
° ¢e2 s:, ge
$ r = 1.0 cm # & # &
5100 G % " 1keV % larger opacity?
whereWhereLB (µ) isFthex,o (µ) 1 ° of
º length
scale æ cos and 𝜇field
the µmagnetic = 𝑚(B/
" 𝑐 /𝑘
" @B+ 𝑇
(5.2)
@l ) evaluatedWhy?along
=the°1lineforofthe
sight.
x For simplicity
mode and æ = we
1 have
for theseto the
mode. refractive
However,
= −1 for x mode and 1 for o mode, 𝐿+ is the scale length of B
indexthis
to be unity in
(1). Fis𝜎x,oreally
ation (µ) isonly
a function of angle
appropriate whenwhich
the two is natural
of orderelectromagnetic
unity for the x mode near
 Thermal gyroresonance opacity
Coronal Magnetic Field Measurements through Gyroresonance Emission 95

s=3 s=4
X B = 595 G B = 446 G 𝜈 = 5 GHz
n = 6.7 109 cm-3 n = 5.0 109 cm-3
104 𝑇 = 3 MK
O 𝐿+ = 10 Mm
Gyroresonance optical depth

X
102

Typically,
O
optically thick at
S=2 (o-mode)
100
X and 3 (x-mode)
O

s=2
10-2 B = 892 G
n = 10. 109 cm-3

0 20 40 60 80 0 20 40 60 80 0 20 40 60 80
Angle (degrees) Angle (degrees) Angle (degrees)
From White 2004
Gyroresonance emission of a sunspot
97
Coronal Magnetic Field Measurements through Gyroresonance Emission

x,o thin
1.2•104
x thick, o thin
1.0•104
x,o thick
Height (km)

8.0•103

6.0•103

4.0•103

2.0•103

0
x mode
2.5
o mode
2.0
TB (106 K)

1.5

1.0

0.5

0
-10000 0 10000
Radius (km)
From White 2004
 Actual observation from the VLA
RCP

LCP

Q: Which polarization is the x-mode? Made by B. Chen for AR 12158

(unpublished)
from J. Lee
 Nonthermal synchrotron radiation
184 SynchrotronRadiation
Synchrotron Radiation

• Ultra-relativistic (𝛾 − 1 ≫ 1) ++
t .t. .(.r()r )

• From a single electron,

adjacent ”spikes” are
separated in frequency by
v?-
only ∆𝜈 =
= bJ
bJ

• Fluctuations in electron Figrrre 6lOa Time depmrdence of electricfwiV from a q & ' y mooing par
Figrrre
in Time
6lOa field
a magnetic depmrdence
(synchrotron of electricfwiV from a q & ' y mooing
radiation).
energy, B strength, or pitch in a magnetic field (synchrotron radiation).
angle cause “broadening” of
the spikes
• Spectrum is virtually
continuous
Synchrotron spectrum 𝑃(𝜈) from a
single electron

Most of the energy is

emitted at 𝜈 ≈ 𝜈' ,
where
𝑥 = 𝜈/𝜈'
8
𝜈' = 𝛾 5 𝜈'" sin 𝛼
5

is the critical frequency

(𝛼 is the pitch angle)
Synchrotron spectrum of an
optically thin source
• One electron of electron 𝐸 nearly emits all energy
at a single frequency 𝜈 ≈ 𝛾 5 𝜈'"
• Optically thin source à to get emissivity 𝑗v in
(ν, 𝜈 + 𝑑𝜈), just add 𝑃 𝜈 = −𝑑𝐸/𝑑𝑡 up from all
electrons within (𝐸, 𝐸 + 𝑑𝐸):
𝑑𝐸
𝑗v 𝑑𝜈 = − 𝑓 𝐸 𝑑𝐸
𝑑𝑡
• Assume a power law electron energy distribution:
𝑓 𝐸 = 𝐶𝑛" 𝐸 }~
• The emissivity 𝑗v ∝ 𝜈 }(~}W)/5
 - 2, the Rayleigh-Jeans value, because the emission is nonthenna
For optically thin synchrotron emission, the observed intensit
Synchrotron spectrum: optically
portional to the emission function, while for optically thick emis
proportional to the source function. Since the emission and sour

thick regime tions for a nonthermal power law electron distribution are propor
v - ( ~ - ’ ) and
/ ~ v 5 / 2 ,respectively, [cf. eqs. (6.22a) and (6.54)] we see
optically thick region occurs at low frequencies and produces
frequency cutoff of the spectrum (see Fig. 6.12).

• Synchrotron brightness
cannot be arbitrarily high
à self-absorption
becomes important at 𝜈 •/5
𝜈 }(~}W)/5
low frequencies
• The spectrum has a
power law of slope 5/2
for optically thick source log v
Figuw 6 1 2 Synchrotron spectrum from a power-law distribution of ele
Gyrosynchrotron radiation
• From mildly relativistic electrons (~1 to several
MeV)
• Expressions for the emission and absorption
coefficient are much more complicated than the
nonrelativistic (thermal gyroresonance) and ultra-
relativistic (synchrotron) case

“exact” approximate
Ramaty 1969 Petrosian 1981
Benka & Holman 1992 Dulk & Marsh 1982, 1985
Klein 1987
Spectrum is also more complicated

Klein (1987)
 𝜈Um ~𝐵8/<

B=1000 G

B=500 G

B=200 G

B=100 G
npk~ nrel1/4 nrel=1 x 107 cm-3

nrel=5 x 106 cm-3

nrel=2 x 106 cm-3

nrel=1 x 106 cm-3
npk~ q1/2
q=80o

q=60o
q=40o

q=20o
(Gyro)synchrotron spectrum

Schematic diagram from Dulk & Marsh 1982

propagate down to the chromosphere where they, too, emit HXR radiation.
Chromospheric plasma heated by electron precipitation fills coronal magnetic loops
where it emits copious soft-X-rays (SXR). A blast wave and/or fast ejecta produced by

Gyrosynchrotron in flares
the flare may produce MHD shocks in the corona and an associated coronal type II radio
burst. Collimated beams of suprathermal electrons may produce fast-drift type III radio
bursts.

Flare observed by SOHO, GOES, and

Nobeyama Radioheliograph at 17
and 34 GHz
• Microwave: gyrosynchotron
• EUV/SXR: hot thermal plasma
Fig. 1 Examples of energetic emissions
from a solar flare. The upper panels show
gyrosynchro-tron emission from
nonthermal electrons at 17 and 34 GHz
obtained by the Nobeyama Radio-
heliograph. The bottom panels shows the
corresponding EUV and SXR emission
from hot thermal plasma.

From T. Bastian
A schematic model of a flare loop
Bastian et al 1998
Summary
• Gyromagnetic radiation results from electrons accelerated
in the magnetic field
• Three different regimes based on energy of the source
electrons: gyroresonance, gyrosynchrotron, and synchrotron
• Gyroresonance can be used to diagnose B fields in active
regions
• Gyrosynchrotron can be used to probe flare-accelerated
electrons and diagnose B field in flare loops
• Synchrotron is more relevant to cosmic sources, but still
possible on the Sun (e.g., the mysterious sub-THz flare
component)