Labrosse, N. and Rodger, A. .S. (2016) Radiative transfer in cylindrical threads with incident radiation. VII. Multi-thread models. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 587, A113. (doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/201526897)
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Abstract
Aims. Our aim is to improve on previous radiative transfer calculations in illuminated cylindrical threads in order to better understand the physical conditions in cool solar chromospheric and coronal structures commonly observed in hydrogen and helium lines. Methods. We solve the radiative transfer and statistical equilibrium equations in a two-dimensional cross-section of a cylindrical structure oriented horizontally and lying above the solar surface. The cylinder is filled with a mixture of hydrogen and helium, and is illuminated at a given altitude from the solar disc. We construct simple models made from a single thread, or from an ensemble of several threads along the line of sight. This first use of 2D multi-thread fine structure modelling combining hydrogen and helium radiative transfer allows us to compute synthetic emergent spectra from cylindrical structures and to study the effect of line-of-sight integration of an ensemble of threads under a range of physical conditions. We analyse the effects of variations in temperature distribution and in gas pressure.We consider the effect of multi-thread structures within a given field of view and the effect of peculiar velocities between the structures in a multi-thread model. These new models are compared to the single thread model, and tested with varying parameters. Results. The presence of a temperature gradient, with temperature increasing towards the edge of the cylindrical thread, reduces the relative importance of the incident radiation coming from the solar disc on the emergent intensities of most hydrogen and helium lines. We also find that when assuming randomly displaced threads in a given field of view, the integrated intensities of optically thick and thin transitions behave considerably differently. In optically thin lines, the emergent intensity increases proportionally with the number of threads, and the spatial variation of the intensity becomes increasingly homogeneous. Optically thick lines however saturate after only a few threads. As a consequence, the spatial variation of the intensity retains much similarity with that of the first few threads. The multi-thread model produces complex line profiles with significant asymmetries if randomly generated line-of-sight velocities are added for each thread. Conclusions. These new computations show for the first time the effect of integrating the radiation emitted in H and He lines by several cylindrical threads static or moving along the line of sight. They can be used to interpret high-spatial and spectral resolutions of cylindrical structures found in the solar atmosphere, such as cool coronal loops or prominence threads.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Labrosse, Dr Nicolas |
Authors: | Labrosse, N., and Rodger, A. .S. |
College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy |
Journal Name: | Astronomy and Astrophysics |
Publisher: | EDP Sciences |
ISSN: | 0004-6361 |
ISSN (Online): | 1432-0746 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2016 The Authors |
First Published: | First published in Astronomy and Astrophysics 587:A113 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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