Determination of Low-Energy Cutoffs and Total Energy of Nonthermal Electrons in a Solar Flare on 2002 April 15

Details Determination of Low-Energy Cutoffs and Total Energy of Nonthermal Electrons in a Solar Flare on 2002 April 15 Determination of Low-Energy Cutoffs and Total Energy of Nonthermal Electrons in a Solar Flare on 2002 April 15

Jun 2005

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005apj...626.1102s&link_type=abstract

The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 626, Issue 2, pp. 1102-1109.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

41

Sun: Flares, Sun: X-Rays, Gamma Rays

Scientific paper

The determination of the low-energy cutoff to the spectrum of accelerated electrons is decisive for the estimation of the total nonthermal energy in solar flares. Because thermal bremsstrahlung dominates the low-energy part of flare X-ray spectra, this cutoff energy is difficult to determine with spectral fitting alone. We have used a new method that combines spatial, spectral, and temporal analysis to determine the cutoff energy for the M1.2 flare observed with RHESSI on 2002 April 15. A low-energy cutoff of 24+/-2 keV is required to ensure that the assumed thermal emissions always dominate over nonthermal emissions at low energies (<20 keV) and that the spectral fitting results are consistent with the RHESSI light curves and images. With this cutoff energy, we obtain a total nonthermal energy in electrons of (1.6+/-1)×1030 ergs that is comparable to the peak energy in the thermal plasma, estimated from RHESSI observations to be (6+/-0.6)×1029 ergs assuming a filling factor of 1.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Determination of Low-Energy Cutoffs and Total Energy of Nonthermal Electrons in a Solar Flare on 2002 April 15 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Determination of Low-Energy Cutoffs and Total Energy of Nonthermal Electrons in a Solar Flare on 2002 April 15, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Determination of Low-Energy Cutoffs and Total Energy of Nonthermal Electrons in a Solar Flare on 2002 April 15 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-869095