Moving solar radio bursts and their association with coronal mass ejections

TL;DR

This study statistically analyzes 64 moving solar radio bursts to understand their association with coronal mass ejections (CMEs), revealing that most are linked to wide CMEs and that the properties of these bursts vary with CME speed.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive statistical analysis of moving radio bursts and their correlation with CME characteristics using radio imaging and white-light observations.

Findings

Over 25% of type II and 50% of type IV bursts are associated with moving radio emission.

Most moving bursts are linked to wide CMEs (>60 degrees).

Type II moving bursts are mostly associated with slow CMEs, while type IV are linked to fast CMEs.

Abstract

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 Na\c{c}ay 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).