An assessment of Fe xx–Fe xxii emission lines in SDO/EVE data as diagnostics for high-density solar flare plasmas using EUVE stellar observations

Keenan, F.P., Milligan, R.O. , Mathioudakis, M. and Christian, D.J. (2017) An assessment of Fe xx–Fe xxii emission lines in SDO/EVE data as diagnostics for high-density solar flare plasmas using EUVE stellar observations. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 468(1), pp. 1117-1122. (doi: 10.1093/mnras/stx525)

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Abstract

The Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory obtains extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) spectra of the full-disc Sun at a spectral resolution of ∼1 Å and cadence of 10 s. Such a spectral resolution would normally be considered to be too low for the reliable determination of electron density (Ne) sensitive emission line intensity ratios, due to blending. However, previous work has shown that a limited number of Fe XXI features in the 90–160 Å wavelength region of EVE do provide useful Ne-diagnostics at relatively low flare densities (Ne ≃ 1011–1012 cm−3). Here, we investigate if additional highly ionized Fe line ratios in the EVE 90–160 Å range may be reliably employed as Ne-diagnostics. In particular, the potential for such diagnostics to provide density estimates for high Ne (∼1013 cm−3) flare plasmas is assessed. Our study employs EVE spectra for X-class flares, combined with observations of highly active late-type stars from the EUVE satellite plus experimental data for well-diagnosed tokamak plasmas, both of which are similar in wavelength coverage and spectral resolution to those from EVE. Several ratios are identified in EVE data, which yield consistent values of electron density, including Fe XX 113.35/121.85 and Fe XXII 114.41/135.79, with confidence in their reliability as Ne-diagnostics provided by the EUVE and tokamak results. These ratios also allow the determination of density in solar flare plasmas up to values of ∼1013 cm−3.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Milligan, Dr Ryan
Authors: Keenan, F.P., Milligan, R.O., Mathioudakis, M., and Christian, D.J.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publisher:Oxford University Press for the Royal Astronomical Society
ISSN:0035-8711
ISSN (Online):1365-2966
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 The Authors
First Published:First published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 468(1):1117-1122
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher
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