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A Large-Scale Search for Evidence of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar FlaresThe nature of quasi-periodic pulsations (QPP) in solar flares is poorly constrained, and critically the general prevalence of such signals in solar flares is unknown. Therefore, we perform a large-scale search for evidence of signals consistent with QPP in solar flares, focusing on the 1300 s timescale. We analyze 675 M- and X-class flares observed by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series in 18 soft X-rays between 2011 February 1 and 2015 December 31. Additionally, over the same era we analyze Fermi/Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) 1525 keV X-ray data for each of these flares associated with a Fermi/GBM solar flare trigger, a total of 261 events. Using a model comparison method, we determine whether there is evidence for a substantial enhancement in the Fourier power spectrum that may be consistent with a QPP signature, based on three tested models; a power-law plus a constant, a broken power-law plus constant, and a power-law-plus-constant with an additional QPP signature component. From this, we determine that approx. 30% of GOES events and approx. 8% of Fermi/GBM events show strong signatures consistent with classical interpretations of QPP. For the remaining events either two or more tested models cannot be strongly distinguished from each other, or the events are well-described by single power-law or broken power-law Fourier power spectra. For both instruments, a preferred characteristic time-scale of approx. 5-30 s was found in the QPP-like events, with no dependence on flare magnitude in either GOES or GBM data. We also show that individual events in the sample show similar characteristic time-scales in both GBM and GOES data sets. We discuss the implications of these results for our understanding of solar flares and possible QPP mechanisms.
Document ID
20170004860
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Inglis, A. R.
(Catholic Univ. of America Washington, DC, United States)
Ireland, J.
(Adnet Systems, Inc. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Dennis, B. R..
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Hayes, L.
(Trinity Coll. Dublin, Ireland)
Gallagher, P.
(Trinity Coll. Dublin, Ireland)
Date Acquired
June 1, 2017
Publication Date
December 21, 2016
Publication Information
Publication: The Astrophysical Journal
Publisher: The American Astronomical Society
Volume: 833
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0004-637X
e-ISSN: 1538-4357
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN43000
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG12PL17C
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG11PL10A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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