Time variations of observed H$\alpha$ line profiles and precipitation depths of non-thermal electrons in a solar flare

TL;DR

This study analyzes the temporal relationship between H-alpha line profiles, X-ray emissions, and plasma parameters during a solar flare, demonstrating that rapid H-alpha variations are driven by changes in energy flux and electron penetration depths.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparison of observed emissions with a numerical model, revealing the link between energy deposition dynamics and spectral line variations in solar flares.

Findings

H-alpha and X-ray emissions are well correlated during the flare.

Variations in H-alpha are caused by changes in energy flux and electron penetration depths.

The model accurately reproduces observed temporal variations.

Abstract

We compare time variations of the H$\alpha$ and X-ray emissions observed during the pre-impulsive and impulsive phases of the C1.1-class solar flare on 21 June 2013 with those of plasma parameters and synthesized X-ray emission from a one-dimensional hydro-dynamic numerical model of the flare. The numerical model was calculated assuming that the external energy is delivered to the flaring loop by non-thermal electrons. The H$\alpha$ spectra and images were obtained using the Multi-channel Subtractive Double Pass spectrograph with a time resolution of 50~ms. The X-ray fluxes and spectra were recorded by the Reuven Ramaty High-Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI). Pre-flare geometric and thermodynamic parameters of the model and the delivered energy were estimated using RHESSI data. The time variations of the X-ray light curves in various energy bands and the those of the H$\alpha$ intensities and line profiles were well correlated. The time scales of the observed variations agree with the calculated variations of the plasma parameters in the flaring loop footpoints, reflecting the time variations of the vertical extent of the energy deposition layer. Our result shows that the fast time variations of the H$\alpha$ emission of the flaring kernels can be explained by momentary changes of the deposited energy flux and the variations of the penetration depths of the non-thermal electrons.