THE SOLAR X-RAY FLARE OF 7 JULY 1966,

Abstract

By means of a mica window Geiger-Mueller tube on earth satellite Explorer 33, a major solar x-ray flare was observed with 81.8 sec time resolution on 7 July 1966. The flare had its onset at 00:23, its maximum intensity at 00:42, and a total duration of 200 minutes. The maximum energy flux was 0.03 ergs/sq cm sec and the time integrated flux was 97 ergs/sq cm (2 < lambda < 12 deg. A). Assuming equal intensity over 2 pi-steradians at the sun, the total emission in this wave length band was 1.4 x 10 to the 29th power ergs and the maximum surface luminosity of the sun was 2.9 x 10 to the 6th power ergs/sq cm sec or 4.5 x 10 to the -5 power of the whole radiant luminosity of the average solar surface. Charged particles began to arrive at the satellite at 00:58, or 35 minutes after the first detection of the x-ray enhancement, and remained in the interplanetary system for at least ten days thereafter. The intensity-time curve of the soft x-rays is compared with those of 2700 MHz solar radio noise flux and of ionospheric absorption at 22 MHz as observed at Pentiction. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0657186

Entities

People

  • James A. van Allen

Organizations

  • University of Iowa

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Charged Particles
  • Detection
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Emission
  • Intensity
  • Ionizing Radiation
  • Luminosity
  • Noise
  • Noise (Radio)
  • Soft X Rays
  • Solar X Rays
  • X Rays

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Solar Physics

Technology Areas

  • Space