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Solar flares at submillimeter wavelengths

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Abstract

We discuss the implications of the first systematic observations of solar flares at submillimeter wavelengths, defined here as observing wavelengths shorter than 3 mm (frequencies higher than 0.1 THz). The events observed thus far show that this wave band requires a new understanding of high-energy processes in solar flares. Several events, including observations from two different observatories, show during the impulsive phase of the flare a spectral component with a positive (increasing) slope at the highest observable frequencies (up to 405 GHz). To emphasize the increasing spectra and the possibility that these events could be even more prominent in the THz range, we term this spectral feature a “THz component”. Here we review the data and methods, and critically assess the observational evidence for such distinct component(s). This evidence is convincing. We also review the several proposed explanations for these feature(s), which have been reported in three distinct flare phases. These data contain important clues to flare development and particle acceleration as a whole, but many of the theoretical issues remain open. We generally have lacked systematic observations in the millimeter-wave to far-infrared range that are needed to complete our picture of these events, and encourage observations with new facilities.

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Notes

  1. One solar flux unit (SFU)=10−19 ergs cm−2 s−1 Hz−1=10−22 W m−2 Hz−1.

  2. We adopt the IAU target identification scheme here: any solar event can be specified as SOLyyyy-mm-dd:Thh:mm:ss in time, and position coordinates can also be added for disambiguation if needed (Leibacher et al. 2010).

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the International Space Science Institute (ISSI), Bern, Switzerland, for supporting the preparation of this review. We also would like to thank the anonymous referee for his comments, which helped to improve our review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of 4D Technologies, School of Engineering, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, 5210, Windisch, Switzerland

    Säm Krucker

  2. CRAAM, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, SP, 01302-907, Brazil

    C. G. Giménez de Castro

  3. Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-7450, USA

    Säm Krucker & H. S. Hudson

  4. Observatoire de Paris, LESIA, CNRS-UMR, 8109, Meudon, France

    G. Trottet & K.-L. Klein

  5. National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA

    T. S. Bastian & A. S. Hales

  6. Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 25165, Ondřejov, Czech Republic

    J. Kašparová

  7. LPC2E, UMR 6115 CNRS et Université d’Orléans, Orléans Cedex 2, France

    M. Kretzschmar

  8. Leica Geosystem AG, Hexagon Metrology, Moenchmattweg 5, 5035, Unterentfelden, Switzerland

    T. Lüthi

  9. DACE/Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    A. Mackinnon

  10. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tuorla Observatory, University of Turku, 21500, Piikkiö, Finland

    S. Pohjolainen

  11. Space Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM, 87117, USA

    S. M. White

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  1. Säm Krucker
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Correspondence to Säm Krucker.

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Krucker, S., Giménez de Castro, C.G., Hudson, H.S. et al. Solar flares at submillimeter wavelengths. Astron Astrophys Rev 21, 58 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00159-013-0058-3

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