SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

D. E. Morosan

Publications and source records attributed to D. E. Morosan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Comprehensive study of solar type II radio bursts and the properties of the associated shock waves

Type II radio bursts are solar radio emissions generated by electrons accelerated by coronal shocks. These bursts are typically found close to expanding coronal mass ejections (CMEs), making them valuable for studying the properties and dynamics of CME-driven shocks in the solar corona. Here, we aim to determine the regions in the solar corona where shock waves accelerate electrons and determine their characteristic properties. To do this, we combine radio observations of type II solar radio bursts with magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of the solar corona. We analyse ten type II radio bursts from Solar Cycle 25 exhibiting emissions. The novelty of this study lies in using radio imaging data for all type II bursts to examine the positions of the radio sources. The radio source positions, combined with a geometrical fitting of the CME shock and the MHD simulations, are used to determine essential shock parameters at the acceleration region, such as the Alfvén Mach number $(M_{\rm A}$ and $θ_{\rm BN}$. The shock parameters are then combined with the properties of the radio emission and the associated eruption in a comprehensive study. We found that for all events, the type II bursts are located near or inside coronal streamers. The estimated shock speeds are high, resulting in the formation of super-critical shocks ($3.8~\leq~M_{\rm A}~\leq~7.7$) at the type II locations. In most events, type II bursts are located at oblique shocks rather than near-perpendicular geometries, suggesting that the shock structure is more complex at local scales than the simple spherical shock models usually applied to CME shocks. Our results suggest that CME-streamer interaction regions are necessary for the generation of type II bursts, as they provide ideal plasma conditions for the formation of super-critical shocks and the subsequent acceleration of electrons.

astro-ph.SR

The location and propagation of fine structures in type II solar radio bursts

Solar eruptions such as coronal mass ejections can drive collisionless shocks that are good particle accelerators. Electrons accelerated by these shocks can be observed remotely via the electromagnetic emission they generate at low radio frequencies. The radio signatures of shock-accelerated electrons at the Sun are type II radio bursts that can be used to track the propagation of the shock wave in the solar corona and beyond. However, type II radio bursts can have complex morphologies in dynamic spectra, being composed of numerous fine time and frequency structures. Here, we aim to determine the location and propagation of the fine structures composing type II bursts using radio imaging from the Nançay Radioheliograph. We investigate the origin of a type II radio burst that was only co-temporal with a flare and a coronal wave, and it was not associated with a CME eruption. The type II burst still showed complex morphology. We find that emission lanes and fine structures composing the type II burst originate from multiple locations around the flare site. The source regions also move in peculiar non-uniform propagation directions following the shock expansion. Our findings are consistent with the idea that multiple radio emission source regions form as a shock propagates through the solar corona.

astro-ph.SR

On the source sizes of type II radio bursts with LOFAR

Solar radio bursts can provide important insights into the underlying physical mechanisms that drive the small and large-scale eruptions on the Sun. Since metric radio observations can give us direct observational access to the inner and middle corona, they are often used as an important tool to monitor and understand the coronal dynamics. While the sizes of the radio sources that can be observed in the solar corona is essential for understanding the nature of density turbulence within the solar corona and its subsequent influence on the angular broadening observed in radio source measurements, the smallest radio sources associated with solar radio bursts have so far been limited by observational techniques and the radio instrument's baselines. We selected three type II bursts that were observed with the LOFAR core and remote stations in the Solar Cycle 24. We estimated the sizes and shapes (ellipticity) of the radio sources between $20-200$ MHz using a two-dimensional Gaussian approximation. Our analysis shows that the smallest radio source size for type II bursts in the solar corona which can be observed in the solar atmosphere at low frequencies is $1.5^\prime \pm 0.5^\prime$ at 150 MHz. However, even though the observations were taken with remote baselines (with a maximum distance of $\sim 85~km$), the effective baselines were much shorter ($\sim 35~km$) likely due to snapshot imaging of the Sun. Our results show that the radio source sizes are less affected by scattering than suggested in previous studies. Our measurements indicate a smaller source sizes at frequencies below 95 MHz compared to previous reports, though some overlap exists with measurements at higher frequencies, using smaller baselines.

astro-ph.SR

Source location and evolution of a multi-lane type II radio burst

Shocks in the solar corona can accelerate electrons that in turn generate radio emission known as type II radio bursts. The characteristics and morphology of these radio bursts in the dynamic spectrum reflect the evolution of the shock itself, together with the properties of the local corona where it propagates. In this work, we study the evolution of a complex type II radio burst showing a multi-lane structure, to find the locations where the radio emission is produced and relate them to the properties of the local environment. Using radio imaging, we track separately each lane composing the type II burst and relate the position of the emission to the properties of the ambient medium such as density, Alfven speed, and magnetic field. We show that the radio burst morphology in the dynamic spectrum changes with time and it is related to the complexity of the local environment. The initial stage of the radio emission show a single lane in the spectrum, while the latter stages of the radio signature evolve in a multi-lane scenario. The radio imaging reveals how the initial stage of the radio emission separates with time into different locations along the shock front as the density and orientation of the magnetic field change along the shock propagation. At the time where the spectrum shows a multi-lane shape, we found a clear separation of the imaged radio sources. By combining radio imaging with the properties of the local corona, we described the evolution of a type II radio burst and, for the first time, identified three distinct radio emission regions above the CME front. Two regions were located at the flanks, producing earlier radio emission than the central position, in accordance with the complexity of density and Alfven speed values in the regions where radio emission is generated. This unprecedented observation provides new insights into the nature of multi-lane type II bursts.

astro-ph.SR

Imaging and spectropolarimetric observations of a band-split type II solar radio burst with LOFAR

Type II solar radio bursts are generated by electrons accelerated by coronal shock waves. They appear in dynamic spectra as lanes drifting from higher to lower frequencies at the plasma frequency and its harmonic. These lanes can often be split into two or more sub-bands that have similar drift rates. This phenomenon is called band-splitting, and its physical origins are still under debate. Our aim is to investigate the origin of band-splitting using novel imaging and spectropolarimetric observations of a type II solar radio burst from the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR). We used LOFAR imaging at multiple frequencies and time steps to track the locations of the radio sources corresponding to the two components of the band-split emission lane. In addition, we estimated the degree of circular polarisation (dcp) for both components using LOFAR's full Stokes dynamic spectra. From the imaging of the type II burst, we found two close but clearly separated emission regions clustered over several frequencies spanning each split band. One emission region corresponds to the lower frequency band and the other to the higher frequency band of the split lane. Using the full Stokes dynamic spectra, we also found the dcp to be very similar for both bands. The two distinct emission regions suggest that the split bands originate from two separate regions at the shock. The similar values of dcp for both sub-bands correspond to similar values of magnetic field strength in the two regions and indicate little to no change in the emission region plasma. Thus, our findings are in contradiction with previous theories, which have suggested that split bands originate in the same region but upstream and downstream of the shock. Instead, our results suggest that both bands originate in two separate upstream regions since we find a clear separation in locations and no magnetic compression.

astro-ph.SR

Resolving spatial and temporal shock structures using LOFAR observations of type II radio bursts

Collisionless shocks are one of the most powerful particle accelerators in the Universe. In the heliosphere, type II solar radio bursts are signatures of electrons accelerated by collisionless shocks launched at the Sun. Spectral observations of these bursts show a variety of fine structures often composing multiple type II lanes. The origin of these lanes and structures is not well understood and has been attributed to the inhomogeneous environment around the propagating shock. Here, we aim to determine the large-scale local structures near a coronal shock wave using high-resolution radio imaging observations of a complex type II radio burst observed on 3 October 2023. By using inteferometric imaging from the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), combined with extreme ultraviolet observations, we investigate the origin of multiple type II lanes at low frequencies (30--80~MHz) relative to the propagating shock wave. We identify at least three radio sources at metric wavelengths corresponding to a multi-lane type II burst. The type II burst sources propagate outwards with a shock driven by a coronal mass ejection. We find a double radio source that exhibits increasing separation over time, consistent with the expansion rate of the global coronal shock. This suggests that the overall shock expansion is nearly self-similar, with acceleration hotspots forming at various times and splitting at a rate proportional to the shock's expansion. Our results show the importance of increased spatial resolution in determining either the small-scale spatial properties in coronal shocks or the structuring of the ambient medium. Possible shock corrugations or structuring of the upstream plasma at the scale of 10$^5$~km can act as hotspots for the acceleration of suprathermal electrons.

astro-ph.SR

Determining the acceleration regions of in situ electrons using remote radio and X-ray observations

Solar energetic particles in the heliosphere are produced by flaring processes on the Sun or shocks driven by coronal mass ejections. These particles are regularly detected remotely as electromagnetic radiation (X-rays or radio emission), which they generate through various processes, or in situ by spacecraft monitoring the Sun and the heliosphere. We aim to combine remote-sensing and in situ observations of energetic electrons to determine the origin and acceleration mechanism of these particles. Here, we investigate the acceleration location, escape, and propagation directions of electron beams producing radio bursts observed with the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), hard X-ray (HXR) emission and, in situ electrons observed at Solar Orbiter (SolO) on 3 October 2023. These observations are combined with a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the electron acceleration locations and results from a magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) model of the solar corona in order to investigate the origin and connectivity of electrons observed remotely at the Sun to in situ electrons. We observed a type II radio burst with good connectivity to SolO, where a significant electron event was detected. However, type III radio bursts and Hard X-rays were also observed co-temporally with the elctron event but likely connected to SolO by different far-sided field lines. The injection times of the SolO electrons are simultaneous with both the onset of the type II radio burst, the group of type III bursts and the presence of a second HXR peak, however, the most direct connection to SolO is that of the type II burst location. The in situ electron spectra point to shock acceleration of electrons with a short-term connection to the source region.

astro-ph.SR

Estimating the lateral speed of a fast shock driven by a coronal mass ejection at the location of solar radio emissions

Fast coronal mass ejections (CMEs) can drive shock waves capable of accelerating electrons to high energies. These shock-accelerated electrons act as sources of electromagnetic radiation, often in the form of solar radio bursts. Recent findings suggest that radio imaging of solar radio bursts can provide a means to estimate the lateral expansion of CMEs and associated shocks in the low corona. Our aim is to estimate the expansion speed of a CME-driven shock at the locations of radio emission using 3D reconstructions of the shock wave from multiple viewpoints. We estimated the 3D location of radio emission using radio imaging from the Nançay Radioheliograph and the 3D location of the shock. The 3D shock was reconstructed using white-light and extreme ultraviolet images of the CME from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, Solar Dynamics Observatory, and the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. The lateral expansion speed of the CME-driven shock at the electron acceleration locations was then estimated using the approximate 3D locations of the radio emission on the surface of the shock. The radio bursts associated with the CME were found to reside at the flank of the expanding CME-driven shock. We identified two prominent radio sources at two different locations and found that the lateral speed of the shock was in the range of $800-1000\,\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}$ at these locations. Such a high speed during the early stages of the eruption already indicates the presence of a fast shock in the low corona. We also found a larger ratio between the radial and lateral expansion speed compared to values obtained higher up in the corona. The high shock speed obtained is indicative of a fast acceleration during the initial stage of the eruption. This acceleration is most likely one of the key parameters contributing to the presence of metric radio emissions, such as type II radio bursts.

astro-ph.SR

The solar cycle 25 multi-spacecraft solar energetic particle event catalog of the SERPENTINE project

The Solar energetic particle analysis platform for the inner heliosphere (SERPENTINE) project presents it's new multi-spacecraft SEP event catalog for events observed in solar cycle 25. Observations from five different viewpoints are utilized, provided by Solar Orbiter, Parker Solar Probe, STEREO A, BepiColombo, and the near-Earth spacecraft Wind and SOHO. The catalog contains key SEP parameters for 25-40 MeV protons, 1 MeV electrons, and 100 keV electrons. Furthermore, basic parameters of the associated flare and type-II radio burst are listed, as well as the coordinates of the observer and solar source locations. SEP onset times are determined using the Poisson-CUSUM method. SEP peak times and intensities refer to the global intensity maximum. If different viewing directions are available, we use the one with the earliest onset for the onset determination and the one with the highest peak intensity for the peak identification. Associated flares are identified using observations from near Earth and Solar Orbiter. Associated type II radio bursts are determined from ground-based observations in the metric frequency range and from spacecraft observations in the decametric range. The current version of the catalog contains 45 multi-spacecraft events observed in the period from Nov 2020 until May 2023, of which 13 were widespread events and four were classified as narrow-spread events. Using X-ray observations by GOES/XRS and Solar Orbiter/STIX, we were able to identify the associated flare in all but four events. Using ground-based and space-borne radio observations, we found an associated type-II radio burst for 40 events. In total, the catalog contains 142 single event observations, of which 20 (45) have been observed at radial distances below 0.6 AU (0.8 AU).

physics.space-ph

Connecting remote and in situ observations of shock-accelerated electrons associated with a coronal mass ejection

One of the most prominent sources for energetic particles in our solar system are huge eruptions of magnetised plasma from the Sun called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which usually drive shocks that accelerate charged particles up to relativistic energies. In particular, energetic electron beams can generate radio bursts through the plasma emission mechanism, for example, type II and accompanying herringbone bursts. Here, we investigate the acceleration location, escape, and propagation directions of various electron beams in the solar corona and compare them to the arrival of electrons at spacecraft. To track energetic electron beams, we use a synthesis of remote and direct observations combined with coronal modelling. Remote observations include ground-based radio observations from the Nancay Radioheliograph (NRH) combined with space-based extreme-ultraviolet and white-light observations from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) and Solar Orbiter (SolO). We also use direct observations of energetic electrons from the STEREO and Wind spacecraft. These observations are then combined with a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the electron acceleration locations that combined with results from magneto-hydrodynamic models of the solar corona is used to investigate the origin and link of electrons observed remotely at the Sun to in situ electrons. We observed a type II radio burst followed by herringbone bursts that show single-frequency movement through time in NRH images. The movement of the type II burst and herringbone radio sources seems to be influenced by the regions in the corona where the CME is more capable of driving a shock. We also found similar inferred injection times of near-relativistic electrons at spacecraft to the emission time of the type II and herringbone bursts.

astro-ph.SR

A type II solar radio burst without a coronal mass ejection

The Sun produces the most powerful explosions in the solar system, solar flares, that can also be accompanied by large eruptions of magnetised plasma, coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These processes can accelerate electron beams up to relativistic energies through magnetic reconnection processes during solar flares and CME-driven shocks. Energetic electron beams can in turn generate radio bursts through the plasma emission mechanism. CME shocks, in particular, are usually associated with type II solar radio bursts. However, on a few occasions, type II bursts have been reported to occur either in the absence of CMEs or shown to be more likely related with the flaring process. It is currently an open question how a shock generating type II bursts forms without the occurrence of a CME eruption. Here, we aim to determine the physical mechanism responsible for a type II burst which occurs in the absence a CME. By using radio imaging from the Nan{\c c}ay Radioheliograph, combined with observations from the Solar Dynamics Observatory and the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory spacecraft, we investigate the origin of a type II radio burst that appears to have no temporal association with a white-light CME. We identify a typical type II radio burst with band-split structure that is associated with a C-class solar flare. The type II burst source is located above the flaring active region and ahead of disturbed coronal loops observed in extreme ultraviolet images. The type II is also preceded by type III radio bursts, some of which are in fact J-bursts indicating that accelerated electron beams do not all escape along open field lines. The type II sources show single-frequency movement towards the flaring active region. The type II is located ahead of a faint extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) front propagating through the corona.

astro-ph.SR

On the Role of Interplanetary Shocks in Accelerating MeV Electrons

One of the sources of solar energetic particle (SEP) events is shocks that are driven by fast coronal mass ejections (CMEs). They can accelerate SEPs up to relativistic energies and are attributed to the largest SEP events. New studies suggest that CME-driven shocks can potentially accelerate electrons to MeV energies in the vicinity of the Sun. We focus on relativistic electrons associated with strong IP shocks between 2007 and 2019 to determine whether the shocks can keep accelerating such electrons up to 1 AU distance. We have analyzed High Energy Telescope (HET) observations aboard the STEREO spacecraft of potential electron energetic storm particle (ESP) events, characterized by intensity time series that peak at the time of, or close to, the associated CME-driven shock crossing. We present a new filtering method to assess the statistical significance of particle intensity increases and apply it to MeV electron observations in the vicinity of interplanetary shocks. We identified 27 candidate events by visual inspection from a STEREO in-situ shock list. Our method identified nine clear cases, where a significant increase of MeV electrons was found in association with a shock. Typically, the highest statistical significance was observed in the highest HET energy channel of electrons. All nine cases were associated with shocks driven by interplanetary CMEs that showed large transit speeds, in excess of 900 km/s. In several cases multiple shocks were observed within one day of the shock related to the electron increase. Although electron ESP events at MeV energies are found to be rare at 1 AU our filtering method is not designed to identify a potential interplanetary shock contribution from distances closer to the Sun. Future observations taken during closer approaches to the Sun will likely provide clarity on interplanetary shock acceleration of electrons.

astro-ph.SR

Shock-accelerated electrons during the fast expansion of a coronal mass ejection

Context. Some of of the most prominent sources for energetic particles in our Solar System are huge eruptions of magnetised plasma from the Sun called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which usually drive shocks that accelerate charged particles up to relativistic energies. In particular, energetic electron beams can generate radio bursts through the plasma emission mechanism. The main types of bursts associated with CME shocks are type II and herringbone bursts. However, it is currently unknown where early accelerated electrons that produce metric type II bursts and herringbones propagate and when they escape the solar atmosphere. Aims. Here, we investigate the acceleration location, escape, and propagation directions of electron beams during the early evolution of a strongly expanding CME-driven shock wave associated with herrinbgone bursts. Methods. We used ground-based radio observations from the Nançay Radioheliograph combined with space-based extreme-ultraviolet and white-light observations from the Solar Dynamics Observatory and and the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory. We produced a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the electron acceleration locations which, combined with results from magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) models of the solar corona, was used to investigate the origin of the herringbone bursts observed. Results. Multiple herringbone bursts are found close to the CME flank in plane-of-sky images. Some of these herringbone bursts have unusual inverted J shapes and opposite drifting herringbones also show opposite senses of circular polarisation. By using a 3D approach combined with the radio properties of the observed bursts, we find evidence that the first radio emission in the CME eruption most likely originates from electrons that initially propagate in regions of low Alfvén speeds and along closed magnetic field lines forming a coronal streamer.

astro-ph.SR

Multi-spacecraft observations of the structure of the sheath of an interplanetary coronal mass ejection and related energetic ion enhancement

Sheaths ahead of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large heliospheric structures that form with CME expansion and propagation. Turbulent and compressed sheaths contribute to the acceleration of particles in the corona and in interplanetary space, but the relation of their internal structures to particle energization is still relatively little studied. In particular, the role of sheaths in accelerating particles when the shock Mach number is low is a significant open problem. This work seeks to provide new insights on the internal structure of CME sheaths with regard to energetic particle enhancements. A good opportunity to achieve this aim was provided by observations of a sheath made by radially aligned spacecraft at 0.8 and $\sim$ 1 AU (Solar Orbiter, Wind, ACE and BepiColombo) on 19-21 April 2020. The sheath was preceded by a weak shock. Energetic ion enhancements occurred at different locations within the sheath structure at Solar Orbiter and L1. Magnetic fluctuation amplitudes at inertial-range scales increased in the sheath relative to the upstream wind. However, when normalised to the local mean field, fluctuation amplitudes did not increase significantly; magnetic compressibility of fluctuation also did not increase. Various substructures were embedded within the sheath at the different spacecraft, including multiple heliospheric current sheet (HCS) crossings and a small-scale flux rope. At L1, the ion flux enhancement was associated with the HCS crossings, while at Solar Orbiter, the enhancement occurred within the rope. Substructures that are swept from the upstream solar wind and compressed in the sheath can act as particularly effective acceleration sites. A possible acceleration mechanism is betatron acceleration associated with the small-scale flux rope and the warped HCS in the sheath.

physics.space-ph

Moving solar radio bursts and their association with coronal mass ejections

Context: Solar eruptions, such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), are often accompanied by accelerated electrons that can in turn emit radiation at radio wavelengths. This radiation is observed as solar radio bursts. The main types of bursts associated with CMEs are type II and type IV bursts that can sometimes show movement in the direction of the CME expansion, either radially or laterally. However, the propagation of radio bursts with respect to CMEs has only been studied for individual events. Aims: Here, we perform a statistical study of 64 moving bursts with the aim to determine how often CMEs are accompanied by moving radio bursts. This is done in order to ascertain the usefulness of using radio images in estimating the early CME expansion. Methods: Using radio imaging from the Naçay Radioheliograph (NRH), we constructed a list of moving radio bursts, defined as bursts that move across the plane of sky at a single frequency. We define their association with CMEs and the properties of associated CMEs using white-light coronagraph observations. We also determine their connection to classical type II and type IV radio burst categorisation. Results: We find that just over a quarter of type II and half of type IV bursts that occurred during the NRH observing windows in Solar Cycle 24 are accompanied by moving radio emission. All but one of the moving radio bursts are associated with white--light CMEs and the majority of moving bursts (90%) are associated with wide CMEs (>60 degrees in width). In particular, all but one of the moving bursts corresponding to type IIs are associated with wide CMEs; however, and unexpectedly, the majority of type II moving bursts are associated with slow white-light CMEs (<500 km/s). On the other hand, the majority of moving type IV bursts are associated with fast CMEs (>500 km/s).

astro-ph.SR

LOFAR imaging of the solar corona during the 2015 March 20 solar eclipse

The solar corona is a highly-structured plasma which can reach temperatures of more than ~2 MK. At low frequencies (decimetric and metric wavelengths), scattering and refraction of electromagnetic waves are thought to considerably increase the imaged radio source sizes (up to a few arcminutes). However, exactly how source size relates to scattering due to turbulence is still subject to investigation. The theoretical predictions relating source broadening to propagation effects have not been fully confirmed by observations due to the rarity of high spatial resolution observations of the solar corona at low frequencies. Here, the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) was used to observe the solar corona at 120-180 MHz using baselines of up to ~3.5 km (corresponding to a resolution of ~1-2') during the partial solar eclipse of 2015 March 20. A lunar de-occultation technique was used to achieve higher spatial resolution (~0.6') than that attainable via standard interferometric imaging (~2.4'). This provides a means of studying the contribution of scattering to apparent source size broadening. It was found that the de-occultation technique reveals a more structured quiet corona that is not resolved from standard imaging, implying scattering may be overestimated in this region when using standard imaging techniques. However, an active region source was measured to be ~4' using both de-occultation and standard imaging. This may be explained by the increased scattering of radio waves by turbulent density fluctuations in active regions, which is more severe than in the quiet Sun.

astro-ph.SR

On the occurrence of type IV solar radio bursts in the solar cycle 24 and their association with coronal mass ejections

Solar activity, in particular coronal mass ejections (CMEs), are often accompanied by bursts of radiation at metre wavelengths. Some of these bursts have a long duration and extend over a wide frequency band, namely, type IV radio bursts. However, the association of type IV bursts with coronal mass ejections is still not well understood. In this article, we perform the first statistical study of type IV solar radio bursts in the solar cycle 24. Our study includes a total of 446 type IV radio bursts that occurred during this cycle. Our results show that a clear majority, $\sim 81 \%$ of type IV bursts, were accompanied by CMEs, based on a temporal association with white-light CME observations. However, we found that only $\sim 2.2 \%$ of the CMEs are accompanied by type IV radio bursts. We categorised the type IV bursts as moving or stationary based on their spectral characteristics and found that only $\sim 18 \%$ of the total type IV bursts in this study were moving type IV bursts. Our study suggests that type IV bursts can occur with both `Fast' ($\geq 500$ km/s) and `Slow' ($< 500$ km/s), and also both `Wide' ($\geq 60^{\circ}$) and `Narrow' ($< 60^{\circ}$) CMEs. However, the moving type IV bursts in our study were mostly associated with `Fast' and `Wide' CMEs ($\sim 52 \%$), similar to type II radio bursts. Contrary to type II bursts, stationary type IV bursts have a more uniform association with all CME types.

astro-ph.SR

Electron acceleration and radio emission following the early interaction of two coronal mass ejections

Context. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large eruptions of magnetised plasma from the Sun that are often accompanied by solar radio bursts produced by accelerated electrons. Aims. A powerful source for accelerating electron beams are CME-driven shocks, however, there are other mechanisms capable of accelerating electrons during a CME eruption. So far, studies have relied on the traditional classification of solar radio bursts into five groups (Type I-V) based mainly on their shapes and characteristics in dynamic spectra. Here, we aim to determine the origin of moving radio bursts associated with a CME that do not fit into the present classification of the solar radio emission. Methods. By using radio imaging from the Nançay Radioheliograph, combined with observations from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, and Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory spacecraft, we investigate the moving radio bursts accompanying two subsequent CMEs on 22 May 2013. We use three-dimensional reconstructions of the two associated CME eruptions to show the possible origin of the observed radio emission. Results. We identified three moving radio bursts at unusually high altitudes in the corona that are located at the northern CME flank and move outwards synchronously with the CME. The radio bursts correspond to fine-structured emission in dynamic spectra with durations of ~1 s, and they may show forward or reverse frequency drifts. Since the CME expands closely following an earlier CME, a low coronal CME-CME interaction is likely responsible for the observed radio emission.

astro-ph.SR