Observation of Large Flares and Their Evolution with the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer
Abstract
The Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) provides some of the highest spatial resolution images ever taken of hot solar flare plasma. The TRACE 195 A channel is particularly sensitive to high temperature flare plasma because of the presence of the Fe XXIV 192 A resonance line in this bandpass. The TRACE 171 A channel observes emission from thermal bremsstrahlung during a flare. Since this emission is generally weak compared to the background corona, it is difficult to derive electron temperatures for flare plasma from TRACE filter ratios. In this paper, we examine large flares observed by TRACE that have significant counts in the 171 A channel when compared to the background corona. The evolution of the filter ratios of these flares is examined over time and compared with a simple cooling model. The effects of non-equilibrium ionization are also examined.
- Publication:
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AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2001
- Bibcode:
- 2001AGUSM..SP51A08R
- Keywords:
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- 7509 Corona;
- 7519 Flares