arXiv subjects

Chengcai Shen

Publications and source records attributed to Chengcai Shen.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

Modeling Electron Acceleration and Transport in the Early Impulsive Phase of the 2017 September 10 Solar Flare

The X8.2-class limb flare on September 10, 2017 is among the best studied solar flare events owing to its great similarity to the standard flare model and the broad coverage by multiple spacecraft and ground-based observations. These multiwavelength observations indicate that electron acceleration and transport are efficient in the reconnection and flare looptop regions. However, there lacks a comprehensive model for explaining and interpreting the multi-faceted observations. In this work, we model the electron acceleration and transport in the early impulsive phase of this flare. We solve the Parker transport equation that includes the primary acceleration mechanism during magnetic reconnection in the large-scale flare region modeled by MHD simulations. We find that electrons are accelerated up to several MeV and fill a large volume of the reconnection region, similar to the observations shown in microwaves. The electron spatial distribution and spectral shape in the looptop region agree well with those derived from the microwave and hard X-ray emissions before magnetic islands grow large and dominate the acceleration. Future emission modelings using the electron maps will enable direct comparison with microwave and hard X-ray observations. These results shed new light on the electron acceleration and transport in a broad region of solar flares within a data-constrained realistic flare geometry.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2022

Constraining the CME Core Heating and Energy Budget with SOHO/UVCS

We describe the energy budget of a coronal mass ejection (CME) observed on 1999 May 17 with the Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer (UVCS). We constrain the physical properties of the CME's core material as a function of height along the corona by using the spectra taken by the single-slit coronagraph spectrometer at heliocentric distances of 2.6 and 3.1 solar radii. We use plasma diagnostics from intensity ratios, such as the O VI doublet lines, to determine the velocity, density, temperature, and non-equilibrium ionization states. We find that the CME core's velocity is approximately 250 km/s, and its cumulative heating energy is comparable to its kinetic energy for all of the plasma heating parameterizations that we investigated. Therefore, the CME's unknown heating mechanisms have the energy to significantly affect the CME's eruption and evolution. To understand which parameters might influence the unknown heating mechanism, we constrain our model heating rates with the observed data and compare them to the rate of heating generated within a similar CME that was constructed by the MAS code's 3D MHD simulation. The rate of heating from the simulated CME agrees with our observationally constrained heating rates when we assume a quadratic power law to describe a self-similar CME expansion. Furthermore, the heating rates agree when we apply a heating parameterization that accounts for the CME flux rope's magnetic energy being converted directly into thermal energy. This UVCS analysis serves as a case study for the importance of multi-slit coronagraph spectrometers for CME studies.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2021

The Origin of Underdense Plasma Downflows Associated with Magnetic Reconnection in Solar Flares

Magnetic reconnection is a universal process that powers explosive energy release events such as solar flares, geomagnetic substorms, and some astrophysical jets. A characteristic feature of magnetic reconnection is the production of fast reconnection outflow jets near the plasma Alfvén speeds. In eruptive solar flares, dark, finger-shaped plasma downflows moving toward the flare arcade have been commonly regarded as the principal observational evidence for such reconnection-driven outflows. However, they often show a speed much slower than that expected in reconnection theories, challenging the reconnection-driven energy release scenario in standard flare models. Here, we present a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics model of solar flares. By comparing the model-predictions with the observed plasma downflow features, we conclude that these dark downflows are self-organized structures formed in a turbulent interface region below the flare termination shock where the outflows meet the flare arcade, a phenomenon analogous to the formation of similar structures in supernova remnants. This interface region hosts a myriad of turbulent flows, electron currents, and shocks, crucial for flare energy release and particle acceleration.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2021

Electron Acceleration during Macroscale Magnetic Reconnection

The first self-consistent simulations of electron acceleration during magnetic reconnection in a macroscale system are presented. Consistent with solar flare observations the spectra of energetic electrons take the form of power-laws that extend more than two decades in energy. The drive mechanism for these nonthermal electrons is Fermi reflection in growing and merging magnetic flux ropes. A strong guide field is found to suppress the production of nonthermal electrons by weakening the Fermi drive mechanism. For a weak guide field the total energy content of nonthermal electrons dominates that of the hot thermal electrons even though their number density remains small. Our results are benchmarked with the hard x-ray, radio and extreme ultra-violet (EUV) observations of the X8.2-class solar flare on September 10, 2017.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Comparative Analysis of the Solar Wind: Modeling Charge State Distributions in the Heliosphere

Non-equilibrium ionization (NEI) is a key process often times neglected when modeling astrophysical plasmas with thermodynamical timescales much shorter than the timescales for ionization and recombination. In this paper, we perform NEI modeling on a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of the solar wind during the Whole Sun Month (Carrington Rotation 1913 from 1996 August 22 to September 18), and compare the resulting charge state distributions with in situ measurements made with the Solar Wind Ion Composition Spectrometer (SWICS) on Ulysses. We trace the wind trajectory back to 20$R_\odot$ using the velocity measured by Ulysses at about 4 AU, and obtain the plasma flow trajectory within 20$R_\odot$ using the MHD simulation data performed by Predictive Science Inc. We assume that the wind started from the solar surface and was initially in ionization equilibrium, and analyze the time-dependent ionization state of solar wind along each of the trajectories. In our analysis we: (1) obtain charge state densities and ratios for slow and fast winds based on the NEI model, and compare them with in situ observations; and (2) measure the "freeze-in" distance for several ions observed by SWICS to determine a possible correlation between when the ionization states become fixed and the electron density and outward velocity of the plasma at the freeze-in height. This study provides a stringent test on comparing charge state distributions from the outer corona predicted from simulations with in situ measurements made in the far heliosphere. This showcases the challenges in matching plasma conditions near the corona to those observed in interplanetary space.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2020

Dynamical modulation of solar flare electron acceleration due to plasmoid-shock interactions in the looptop region

A fast-mode shock can form in the front of reconnection outflows and has been suggested as a promising site for particle acceleration in solar flares. Recent development of magnetic reconnection has shown that numerous plasmoids can be produced in a large-scale current layer. Here we investigate the dynamical modulation of electron acceleration in the looptop region when plasmoids intermittently arrive at the shock by combining magnetohydrodynamics simulations with a particle kinetic model. As plasmoids interact with the shock, the looptop region exhibits various compressible structures that modulate the production of energetic electrons. The energetic electron population varies rapidly in both time and space. The number of 5$-$10 keV electrons correlates well with the area with compression, while that of $>$50 keV electrons shows good correlation with strong compression area but only moderate correlation with shock parameters. We further examine the impacts of the first plasmoid, which marks the transition from a quasi-steady shock front to a distorted and dynamical shock. The number of energetic electrons is reduced by $\sim 20\%$ at 15$-$25 keV and nearly 40\% for 25$-$50 keV, while the number of 5$-$10 keV electrons increases. In addition, the electron energy spectrum above 10 keV evolves softer with time. We also find double or even multiple distinct sources can develop in the looptop region when the plasmoids move across the shock. Our simulations have strong implications to the interpretation of nonthermal looptop sources, as well as the commonly observed fast temporal variations in flare emissions, including the quasi-periodic pulsations.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2020

Measurement of magnetic field and relativistic electrons along a solar flare current sheet

In the standard model of solar flares, a large-scale reconnection current sheet is postulated as the central engine for powering the flare energy release and accelerating particles. However, where and how the energy release and particle acceleration occur remain unclear due to the lack of measurements for the magnetic properties of the current sheet. Here we report the measurement of spatially-resolved magnetic field and flare-accelerated relativistic electrons along a current-sheet feature in a solar flare. The measured magnetic field profile shows a local maximum where the reconnecting field lines of opposite polarities closely approach each other, known as the reconnection X point. The measurements also reveal a local minimum near the bottom of the current sheet above the flare loop-top, referred to as a "magnetic bottle". This spatial structure agrees with theoretical predictions and numerical modeling results. A strong reconnection electric field of ~4000 V/m is inferred near the X point. This location, however, shows a local depletion of microwave-emitting relativistic electrons. These electrons concentrate instead at or near the magnetic bottle structure, where more than 99% of them reside at each instant. Our observations suggest that the loop-top magnetic bottle is likely the primary site for accelerating and/or confining the relativistic electrons.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

The Acceleration and Confinement of Energetic Electrons by a Termination Shock in a Magnetic Trap: An Explanation for Nonthermal Loop-top Sources during Solar Flares

Nonthermal loop-top sources in solar flares are the most prominent observational signature that suggests energy release and particle acceleration in the solar corona. Although several scenarios for particle acceleration have been proposed, the origin of the loop-top sources remains unclear. Here we present a model that combines a large-scale magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a two-ribbon flare with a particle acceleration and transport model for investigating electron acceleration by a fast-mode termination shock at the looptop. Our model provides spatially resolved electron distribution that evolves in response to the dynamic flare geometry. We find a concave-downward magnetic structure located below the flare termination shock, induced by the fast reconnection downflows. It acts as a magnetic trap to confine the electrons at the looptop for an extended period of time. The electrons are energized significantly as they cross the shock front, and eventually build up a power-law energy spectrum extending to hundreds of keV. We suggest that this particle acceleration and transport scenario driven by a flare termination shock is a viable interpretation for the observed nonthermal loop-top sources.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

Radio Spectroscopic Imaging of a Solar Flare Termination Shock: Split-Band Feature as Evidence for Shock Compression

Solar flare termination shocks have been suggested as one of the promising drivers for particle acceleration in solar flares, yet observational evidence remains rare. By utilizing radio dynamic spectroscopic imaging of decimetric stochastic spike bursts in an eruptive flare, Chen et al. found that the bursts form a dynamic surface-like feature located at the ending points of fast plasma downflows above the looptop, interpreted as a flare termination shock. One piece of observational evidence that strongly supports the termination shock interpretation is the occasional split of the emission band into two finer lanes in frequency, similar to the split-band feature seen in fast-coronal-shock-driven type II radio bursts. Here we perform spatially, spectrally, and temporally resolved analysis of the split-band feature of the flare termination shock event. We find that the ensemble of the radio centroids from the two split-band lanes each outlines a nearly co-spatial surface. The high-frequency lane is located slightly below its low frequency counterpart by ~0.8 Mm, which strongly supports the shock upstream-downstream interpretation. Under this scenario, the density compression ratio across the shock front can be inferred from the frequency split, which implies a shock with a Mach number of up to 2.0. Further, the spatiotemporal evolution of the density compression along the shock front agrees favorably with results from magnetohydrodynamics simulations. We conclude that the detailed variations of the shock compression ratio may be due to the impact of dynamic plasma structures in the reconnection outflows, which results in distortion of the shock front.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

Non-equilibrium ionization effects on solar EUV and X-ray imaging observations

During transient events such as major solar eruptions, the plasma can be far from the equilibrium ionization state because of rapid heating or cooling. Non-equilibrium ionization~(NEI) is important in rapidly evolving systems where the thermodynamical timescale is shorter than the ionization or recombination time scales. We investigate the effects of NEI on EUV and X-ray observations by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board Solar Dynamic Observatory and X-ray Telescope (XRT) on board Hinode. Our model assumes that the plasma is initially in ionization equilibrium at low temperature, and it is heated rapidly by a shock or magnetic reconnection. We tabulate the responses of the AIA and XRT passbands as functions of temperature and a characteristic timescale, $n_{e}t$. We find that most of the ions reach equilibrium at $n_{e}t\leq$10$^{12}$ cm$^{-3}$s. Comparing ratios of the responses between different passbands allows us to determine whether a combination of plasmas at temperatures in ionization equilibrium can account for a given AIA and XRT observation. It also expresses how far the observed plasma is from equilibrium ionization. We apply the ratios to a supra-arcade plasma sheet on 2012 January 27. We find that the closer the plasma is to the arcade, the closer it is to a single-temperature plasma in ionization equilibrium. We also utilize the set of responses to estimate the temperature and density for shocked plasma associated with a coronal mass ejection on 2010 June 13. The temperature and density ranges we obtain are in reasonable agreement with previous works.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

Astro2020 Science White Paper: Probing Magnetic Reconnection in Solar Flares - New Perspectives from Radio Dynamic Imaging Spectroscopy

Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental physical process in many laboratory, space, and astrophysical plasma contexts. Solar flares serve as an outstanding laboratory to study the magnetic reconnection and the associated energy release and conversion processes under plasma conditions difficult to reproduce in the laboratory, and with considerable spatiotemporal details not possible elsewhere in astrophysics. Here we emphasize the unique power of remote-sensing observations of solar flares at radio wavelengths. In particular, we discuss the transformative technique of broadband radio dynamic imaging spectroscopy in making significant contributions to addressing several outstanding challenges in magnetic reconnection, including the capability of pinpointing magnetic reconnection sites, measuring the time-evolving reconnecting magnetic fields, and deriving the spatially and temporally resolved distribution function of flare-accelerated electrons.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

Ion Charge States in a Time-Dependent Wave-Turbulence-Driven Model of the Solar Wind

Ion fractional charge states, measured in situ in the heliosphere, depend on the properties of the plasma in the inner corona. As the ions travel outward in the solar wind and the electron density drops, the charge states remain essentially unaltered or "frozen in". Thus they can provide a powerful constraint on heating models of the corona and acceleration of the solar wind. We have implemented non-equilibrium ionization calculations into a 1D wave-turbulence-driven (WTD) hydrodynamic solar wind model and compared modeled charge states with the Ulysses 1994-5 in situ measurements. We have found that modeled charge state ratios of $C^{6+}/C^{5+}$ and $O^{7+}/O^{6+}$, among others, were too low compared with Ulysses measurements. However, a heuristic reduction of the plasma flow speed has been able to bring the modeled results in line with observations, though other ideas have been proposed to address this discrepancy. We discuss implications of our results and the prospect of including ion charge state calculations into our 3D MHD model of the inner heliosphere.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2018

The Dynamical Behavior of Reconnection-driven Termination Shocks in Solar Flares: Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations

In eruptive solar flares, termination shocks (TSs), formed when high-speed reconnection outflows collide with closed dense flaring loops, are believed to be one of the possible candidates for plasma heating and particle acceleration. In this work, we perform resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations in a classic Kopp-Pneuman flare configuration to study the formation and evolution of TSs, and analyze in detail the dynamic features of TSs and variations of the shock strength in space and time. This research focuses on the fast reconnection phase when plasmoids form and produce small-scale structures inside the flare current sheet. It is found that the TS emerges once the downward outflow colliding with closed magnetic loops becomes super-magnetosonic, and immediately becomes highly dynamical. The morphology of a TS can be flat, oblique, or curved depending on the detailed interactions between the outflows/plasmoids and the highly dynamic plasma in the looptop region. The TS becomes weaker when a plasmoid is crossing through, or may even be destroyed by well developed plasmoids and then re-constructed above the plasmoids. We also perform detailed statistical analysis on important physical quantities along and across the shock front. The density and temperature ratios range from 1 to 3 across the TS front, and the pressure ratio typically has larger values up to 10. We show that weak guide fields do not strongly affect the Mach number and compression ratios, and the TS length becomes slightly larger in the case with thermal conduction.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

Particle Acceleration by a Solar Flare Termination Shock

Solar flares - the most powerful explosions in the solar system - are also efficient particle accelerators, capable of energizing a large number of charged particles to relativistic speeds. A termination shock is often invoked in the standard model of solar flares as a possible driver for particle acceleration, yet its existence and role have remained controversial. We present observations of a solar flare termination shock and trace its morphology and dynamics using high-cadence radio imaging spectroscopy. We show that a disruption of the shock coincides with an abrupt reduction of the energetic electron population. The observed properties of the shock are well-reproduced by simulations. These results strongly suggest that a termination shock is responsible, at least in part, for accelerating energetic electrons in solar flares.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

The plasmoid instability during asymmetric inflow magnetic reconnection

Theoretical studies of the plasmoid instability generally assume that the reconnecting magnetic fields are symmetric. We relax this assumption by performing two-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the plasmoid instability during asymmetric inflow magnetic reconnection. Magnetic asymmetry modifies the onset, scaling, and dynamics of this instability. Magnetic islands develop preferentially into the weak magnetic field upstream region. Outflow jets from individual X-points impact plasmoids obliquely rather than directly as in the symmetric case. Consequently, deposition of momentum by the outflow jets into the plasmoids is less efficient, the plasmoids develop net vorticity, and shear flow slows down secondary merging between islands. Secondary merging events have asymmetry along both the inflow and outflow directions. Downstream plasma is more turbulent in cases with magnetic asymmetry because islands are able to roll around each other after exiting the current sheet. As in the symmetric case, plasmoid formation facilitates faster reconnection for at least small and moderate magnetic asymmetries. However, when the upstream magnetic field strengths differ by a factor of four, the reconnection rate plateaus at a lower value than expected from scaling the symmetric results. We perform a parameter study to investigate the onset of the plasmoid instability as a function of magnetic asymmetry and domain size. There exist domain sizes for which symmetric simulations are stable but asymmetric simulations are unstable, suggesting that moderate magnetic asymmetry is somewhat destabilizing. We discuss the implications for plasmoid and flux rope formation in solar eruptions, laboratory reconnection experiments, and space plasmas. The differences between symmetric and asymmetric simulations provide some hints regarding the nature of the three-dimensional plasmoid instability.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

Numerical Experiments of Wave-Like Phenomena Caused by the Disruption of an Unstable Magnetic Configuration

The origin of the Moreton wave observed in the chromosphere and the EIT wave observed in the corona during the eruption remains being an active research subject for a while. We investigate numerically in this work the evolutionary features of the magnetic configuration that includes a current-carrying flux rope, which is used to model the filament, after the loss of equilibrium in the system takes place in a catastrophic fashion. Rapid motions of the flux rope following the catastrophe invokes the velocity vortices behind the rope, and may invoke as well slow and fast mode shocks in front of the rope. The velocity vortices at each side of the flux rope propagate roughly horizontally away from the area where it is produced, and both shocks expand toward the flank of the flux rope. The fast one may eventually reach the bottom boundary and produces two echoes moving back into the corona, but the slow one and the vortices totally decay somewhere in the lower corona before arriving the bottom boundary. The interaction of the fast shock with the boundary leads to disturbance that accounts for the Moreton wave observed in Halpha, and the disturbance in the corona caused by the slow shock and the velocity vortices should account for the EIT wave whose speed is about 40% that of the Moreton wave. Implication of these results to the observed correlation of the type II radio burst to the fast and the slow mode shocks, and that of EIT waves to CMEs and flares have also been discussed.

astro-ph.SR↗