Analysis of solar flare timing in radio and X-ray bands

Brešan, Andrej (author), Zwitter, Tomaž (mentor), Messerotti, Mauro (co-mentor)

This thesis presents the standard solar flare model and one of the possible verifications of its validity by analyzing radio-solar data taken with the Trieste Solar Radio System (TSRS), located near the city of Trieste in Italy. A review of measured data was made based on a list of solar energetic particle (SEP) events, produced by solar flares in the years between 1996 and 2016. Features expected for bursts produced by a flare following the standard model --- namely peaking times in six radio frequencies and two X-ray bands --- were observed. The majority of observed events showed a fair congruence with the expected time sequence of peaks in the standard flare model. However, many exceptions to the standard model rules and complex events were also identified, necessitating further investigation. The events were subsequently gathered in order to obtain a statistical overview of radio and X-ray peaks time delays that was compared to previous works performed by other research groups. We found our findings to correspond broadly to theirs. Next, we verified how many SEP events were preceded by a solar radio burst observed in Trieste. We sought to confirm the reliability of our instrument for identifying potentially hazardous solar events, finding four such events. In the end, we described a feature observed in the TSRS data which could represent a precursor event for large solar flares. The theory would require confirmation or rejection in future analyses. As part of work on this thesis, an experimental radio telescope project was started by the author and his colleagues. This project is outlined in brief in the conclusion as a supplement to the thesis.

• Language: English
• Keywords: solar flares, magnetic reconnection, radio astronomy, standard model of solar flares, X-rays, trieste solar radio system, GOES satellites, solar energetic particles, solar flare statistics, solar flare radio precursors, experimental radio telescope
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: FMF - Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
• Year: 2020
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-117346
• COBISS.SI-ID: 21985795
• Publication date in RUL: 08.07.2020

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Časovna analiza Sončevih izbruhov v radijskih in rentgenskih frekvenčnih pasovih

Abstract

V tem magistrskem delu predstavljamo standardni model Sončevih bliščev oz. izbruhov in enega od možnih načinov testiranja njegove veljavnosti z analizo radijskih podatkov Sonca, ki so bili izmerjeni s Tržaškim Sončnim radijskim sistemom (TSRS) v bližini Trsta v Italiji. Pregled podatkov sledi seznamu dogodkov s Sončevimi energetskimi delci (SEP), ki so imeli za izvor Sončeve blišče med letoma 1996 in 2016. Opazovali smo lastnosti -- natančneje čas vrhov v 6 radijskih in 2 rentgenskih frekvencah -- značilne za izbruhe, ki jih povzroči blišč, ki sledi standardnemu modelu. Pri večini opazovanih dogodkov se časovna pojavnost vrhov dobro sklada s pričakovano časovno sekvenco pojavljanja vrhov v standardnem modelu izbruhov. Poleg teh pa smo identificirali tudi mnogo izjem tega pravila in kompleksnih dogodkov, ki jih bo treba še podrobneje preučiti. Dogodke smo nato združili in naredili statistiko časovnih zamikov med radijskimi in rentgenskimi vrhovi. Metoda je primerljiva s pristopom drugih raziskovalnih skupin. Tudi naši rezultati se dobro ujemajo s tistimi iz literature. V naslednjem koraku smo preverili, za koliko dogodkov SEP je TSRS izmeril radijski izbruh. Hoteli smo dokazati zanesljivost našega sistema pri prepoznavanju potencialno nevarnih Sončevih dogodkov in identificirali štiri take dogodke. Na koncu smo opisali še eno lastnost podatkov iz TSRS, ki bi lahko bila znanilec za večje Sončeve blišče in jo bo potrebno potrditi ali ovreči šele z dodatno analizo v prihodnosti. Med potekom dela za to magistrsko nalogo smo avtor naloge in kolegi začeli s projektom izgradnje poskusnega radijskega teleskopa. Krajši opis tega teleskopa se nahaja v zaključkih kot dodatek tej magistrski nalogi.

• Keywords: Sončevi izbruhi, magnetna rekonekcija, radijska astronomija, standardni model Sončevih bliščev, rentgenski žarki, Tržaški Sončni radijski sistem, sateliti GOES, energetski Sončevi delci, statistika Sončevih izbruhov, radijski znanilci Sončevih blišč