HR: 0830h
AN: SP21A-06    [Abstracts]
TI: Photon-Flux Saturation in Large Solar Flares
AU: * Daou, A G
EM: agdaou@rice.edu
AF: Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy P.O.Box 1892 MS 108, Houston, TX 77251-1892 United States
AU: Alexander, D
EM: dalex@rice.edu
AF: Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy P.O.Box 1892 MS 108, Houston, TX 77251-1892 United States
AB: We use the spectral and spatial resolution of RHESSI to explore the behavior of electron fluxes and their associated currents in large solar flares, including the Halloween events of October-November 2003. The incident electron spectra at the flaring footpoints are derived from the RHESSI photon spectra. Spectral images are used to determine an upper limit as well as a spectrally-averaged estimation for the footpoint area. We find that, over a wide range of flare X-ray magnitudes, the integrated fluxes above 20 keV asymptotically approach a limiting value, suggesting some form of saturation in the particle production in flares. We discuss the implications of these results in terms of the assumed model of a stable non-thermal electron beam.
DE: 7513 Coronal mass ejections
DE: 7519 Flares
SC: Solar Physics Division - AAS [SP]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly