Narrowband spikes observed during the 13 June 2012 flare in the 800-2000 MHz range

TL;DR

This study analyzes narrowband radio spikes during a 2012 solar flare, classifying their types, comparing them to zebra patterns, and modeling their generation via Bernstein modes to estimate magnetic field and plasma density.

Contribution

It introduces a new classification of narrowband spikes, compares them with zebra patterns, and models their generation using Bernstein modes to estimate physical parameters.

Findings

SZ spikes are generated differently than zebras but similarly to SBN spikes.

SZ band frequencies can be fitted by Bernstein modes.

Estimated magnetic field is about 79 G and plasma density is 8.4x10^9 cm^-3.

Abstract

Narrowband (~5 MHz) and short-lived (~0.01 s) spikes with three different distributions on the 800-2000 MHz radio spectrum of the 13 June 2012 flare are detected and analyzed. We designate them as SB (spikes distributed in broad band or bands), SZ (spikes distributed in zebra-like bands) and SBN (spikes distributed in broad and narrow bands). Analyzing AIA/SDO images of the active region NOAA 11504, a rough correspondence between groups of the spikes observed on 1000 MHz and peaks in the time profiles of AIA channels taken from the flare sub-area close to the leading sunspot is found. Among types of spikes the SZ type is the most interesting because it resembles to zebras. Therefore, using auto-correlation and cross-correlation methods we compare SZ and SBN spikes with the typical zebra observed in the same frequency range. While the ratio of SZ band frequencies with their frequency separation (220 MHz) is about 4, 5 and 6, in the zebra the frequency stripe separation is about 24 MHz and the ratio is around 50. Moreover, the bandwidth of SZ bands, which consists of clouds of narrowband spikes, is much broader than that of zebra stripes. This comparison indicates that SZ spikes are generated different way than the zebra, but similar way as SBN spikes. We successfully fit the SZ band frequencies by the Bernstein modes. Based on this fitting we interpret SZ and SBN spikes as those generated in the model with Bernstein modes. Thus, the magnetic field and plasma density in the SZ spike source is estimated as about 79 G and 8.4x10^9 cm-3, respectively.