Issue |
A&A
Volume 413, Number 2, January II 2004
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 753 - 763 | |
Section | The Sun | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20034060 | |
Published online | 18 December 2003 |
Band-splitting of coronal and interplanetary type II bursts *
III. Physical conditions in the upper corona and interplanetary space
1
Hvar Observatory, University of Zagreb, Kačićeva 26, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
2
INAF – Trieste Astronomical Observatory, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34131 Trieste, Italy
Corresponding author: B. Vršnak, bvrsnak@geodet.geof.hr
Received:
9
July
2003
Accepted:
30
September
2003
We analyse properties of 58 type II radio bursts recorded in the meter-to-kilometer wavelength range, focusing on episodes of band-split emission. The basic two parameters utilized are the frequency drift and the relative band-split of type II burst emission lanes. On average, in the meter-to-kilometer wavelength range Df increases with the emission frequency as , revealing that source velocities are smaller at larger heliocentric distances. The relative band-split shows a weak but statistically significant dependence on the emission frequency, , indicating an increase of BDW with the heliocentric distance. Combining the shock velocity estimated from the frequency drift, with the Mach number inferred from the band-split, the Alfvén speed and the magnetic field in the ambient plasma can be estimated as a function of the heliocentric distance r. However, the outcome directly depends on the coronal/interplanetary density model used, which is poorly known in the upper corona and the near-Sun interplanetary space. So, we invert the problem: utilizing the results of the previous paper where it was shown that beyond the heliocentric distance of two solar radii () the average magnetic field decreases approximately as , we infer the density in the upper corona and near-Sun interplanetary space. The obtained empirical dependence is presented in the analytical form as a four-degree polynomial of , and is compared with some theoretical models, considering also a deviation from the scaling used. The model matches the five-fold Saito density model (representing the active region corona) with the regime in the interplanetary space. Furthermore, it is shown that on average the magnetosonic speed attains a local minimum of km s-1 around and a broad local maximum of km s-1 in the range , beyond which it gradually decreases to several tens km s-1 at 1 a.u. The local minimum becomes even deeper if the super-radial expansion of the magnetic field is taken into account. The implications regarding the formation and evolution of shocks in the corona and upper corona are discussed in the framework of CME-piston and flare-blast scenarios. The inferred general decrease of type II burst source velocities and broadening of band-splits with distance is interpreted in terms of the deceleration of mass ejections driving the shocks in the decreasing vms environment.
Key words: Sun: radio radiation / MHD / shock waves / Sun: corona / interplanetary medium
© ESO, 2004
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