Hard X-rays and associated weak decimetric bursts

Abstract

In previous attempts to show one-to-one correlation between type III bursts and X-ray spikes, there have been ambiguities as to which of several X-ray spikes are correlated with any given type III burst. Here, we present observations that show clear associations of X-ray bursts with RS type III bursts between 16:46 UT and 16:52 UT on July 9, 1985. The hard X-ray observations were made at energies above 25 keV with HXRBS on SMM and the radio observations were made at 1.63 GHz using the 13.7m Itapetinga antenna in R and L polarization with a time resolution of 3 ms.

Detailed comparison between the hard X-ray and radio observations shows:

• (1) In at least 13 cases we can identify the associated hard X-ray and decimetric RS bursts.

• (2) On average, the X-ray peaks were delayed from the peak of the RS bursts at 1.6 GHz by ∼ 400 ms although a delay as long as 1 s was observed in one case.

One possible explanation of the long delays between the RS bursts and the associated X-ray bursts is that the RS burst is produced at the leading edge of the electron beam, whereas the X-ray burst peaks at the time of arrival of the bulk of the electrons at the high density region at the lower corona and upper chromosphere. Thus, the time comparison must be made between the peak of the radio pulse and the start of the X-ray burst. In that case the delays are consistent with an electron travel time with velocity ∼ 0.3 c from the 800 MHz plasma level to the lower corona assuming that the radio emission is at the second harmonic.