Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Upper limits on the total radiant energy of solar flares

  • Published:
Solar Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We establish limits on the total radiant energy of solar flares during the period 1980 February – November, using the solar-constant monitor (ACRIM) on board the Solar Maximum Mission. Typical limits amount to 6 × 1029 erg/s for a 32-second integration time, with 5σ statistical significance, for an impulsive emission; for a gradual component, about 4 × 1032 ergs total radiant energy. The limits lie about an order of magnitude higher than the total radiant energy estimated from the various known emission components, suggesting that no heretofore unknown dominant component of flare radiation exists.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bruzek, A: 1967, in J. Xanthakis (ed.), Solar Physics (Interscience), p. 414.

  • Canfield, R.C., Cheng, C.-C., Dere, K.P., Dulk, G.A., McLean, D.J., Robinson, R.D., Schmahl, E.J., and Schoolman, S.A.: 1980, in P.A. Sturrock (ed.), Solar Flares (Colorado), p. 451.

  • Donnelly, R.F.: 1971, Solar Physics 20, 188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hundhausen, A.J.: 1972, Coronal Expansion and the Solar Wind (Springer, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • HXRBS Team: 1982, private communication.

  • Livingston, W.C., and Ye, B.: 1982 Publ. Ast. Soc. Pac. (to be published).

  • Rust, D. and Hegwer, F.: 1975, Solar Physics 40, 141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svestka, Z.: 1976, Solar Flares (Reidel, Dordrecht).

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, R.J.: 1981, private communication

  • Willson, R.C.: 1979, Applied Optics 18, 179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willson, R.C., Gulkis, S., Janssen, M., Hudson, H.S., and Chapman, G.A.: 1981, Science 211, 700.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodard, M., Hudson, H., and Willson, R.: 1982, UCSD-SP-82-32.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, University of California, 92093, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A.

    H. S. Hudson

  2. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 91103, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A.

    R. C. Willson

Authors
  1. H. S. Hudson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. C. Willson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hudson, H.S., Willson, R.C. Upper limits on the total radiant energy of solar flares. Sol Phys 86, 123–130 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00157181

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00157181

Keywords

Search

Navigation