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Optical-to-Radio Continua in Solar Flares

  • SOLAR FLARE MAGNETIC FIELDS AND PLASMAS
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Abstract

Spectral continua observed during solar flares may contain information about both thermal and non-thermal heating mechanisms. Using two semi-empirical flare models F2 and FLA, we synthesize the thermal continua from optical to mm–radio domains and compare their intensities with quiet-Sun values computed from a recent model C7. In this way, the far-infrared and sub-mm/mm continua are studied for the first time, and we present our results as a benchmark for further modeling and for planning new observations, especially with the ALMA instrument. Finally, we demonstrate how these continua are formed and show a close correspondence between their brightness temperature and the kinetic-temperature structure of the flaring atmosphere.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences, 251 65, Ondřejov, The Czech Republic

    P. Heinzel

  2. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, USA

    E. H. Avrett

Authors
  1. P. Heinzel
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  2. E. H. Avrett
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Correspondence to P. Heinzel.

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Solar Flare Magnetic Fields and Plasmas

Guest Editors: Y. Fan and G.H. Fisher

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Heinzel, P., Avrett, E.H. Optical-to-Radio Continua in Solar Flares. Sol Phys 277, 31–44 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-011-9823-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-011-9823-5

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