Spectral diagnostics of cool flare loops observed by SST: I. Inversion of the Ca II 8542 Å and H$\beta$ lines

Abstract

Flare loops form an integral part of eruptive events, being detected in the range of temperatures from X-rays down to cool chromospheric-like plasmas. While the hot loops are routinely observed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory's Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (SDO/AIA), cool loops seen off-limb are rare. In this paper we employ unique observations of the SOL2017-09-10T16:06 X8.2-class flare which produced an extended arcade of loops. The Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) made a series of spectral images of the cool off-limb loops in the Ca II 8542 Å and the hydrogen H$\beta$ lines. Our focus is on the loop apices. Non-LTE spectral inversion is achieved through the construction of extended grids of models covering a realistic range of plasma parameters. The Multilevel Accelerated Lambda Iterations (MALI) code solves the non-LTE radiative-transfer problem in a 1D externally-illuminated slab, approximating the studied loop segment. Inversion of the Ca II 8542 Å and H$\beta$ lines yields two similar solutions, both indicating high electron densities around $2\times 10^{12}$ cm${}^{-3}$ and relatively large microturbulence around 25 kms${}^{-1}$. These are in reasonable agreement with other independent studies of the same or similar events. In particular, the high electron densities in the range $10^{12}-10^{13}$ cm${}^{-3}$ are consistent with those derived from the SDO's Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager white-light observations. The presence of such high densities in solar eruptive flares supports the loop interpretation of the optical continuum emission of stars which manifest superflares.

16 pages, 9 figures; accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal on September 11, 2019