Sun-Earth-Man - PlasmaResources

a SUN-EARTH-MAN: A MESH OF COSMIC OSCILLATIONS VII. PLANETARY FORCINGAND FLARE CYCLES 5 1
that deal with relations of tidal planets with flare^.^ This is difficult to
understand, as it is known from Skylab observations that flares are set off by
initial disruptions in hot coronal loops over active regions. It is easier to
imagine that weak tidal disturbances may trigger such events in an unstable
zone of the Sun's atmosphere than to concede that the tide-generating forces
could act on the strong magnetic fields that are contained in sunspots.
Calculations of the relative tidal forces of the planets Mercury to Saturn show
that the latter is as negligible as that of Mars. Comparison of the composed
vector of the tidal forces of Venus, Earth, and Jupiter, excluding or including , :
Mercury, shows that the vector including Mercury oscillates around the vector
of Venus, Earth, and Jupiter. Therefore, only the latter was investigated in its
relation to energetic flares marked by X-ray bursts equal to or greater than class
X2 (2x2). Figure 21 presents the result. Unexpectedly, no cardinal correlations
with the magnitude of the vector emerged. But the change in direction proved
to be crucial. The angular acceleration dwldt = dZqidt2 of the vector forms a cyclic
pattern which shows a strong relation with X-ray bursts observed since 1970.
Figure 21 reflects the course of the cycle in 1982. The abscissa axiNesignates
the days of 1982. The ordinate represents the time rate of change of the angular
velocity of the vector. The active phase of the related flare cycle begins when
the curve crosses the time axis. This is again a boundary phenomenon, a
transition from the domain of one quality into the realm of the opposite quality,
which is together the transgression of a borderline; dwidt changes frpm positive
to negative acceleration, or inversely. These crucial zero phases are indicated
in Figure 21 by fat triangles, and in one case by a fat arrow. The effect on flares
is stronger when the curve ascends then when it descends. Furthermore, the
strength of the effect is inversely proportional to the steepness of the ascent
or descent. Slow ascent releases prolonged flare activity reaching a high level
of energy display. Cases of less steep ascent occur when the magnitude of the
vector reaches maximum values. The fat arrow on the time axis designates
such a situation.
LuIl phases in the flare cycle always begin in the middle between two zero
values of dwldf. Their start is marked by the second harmonic of the respective
cycle. On top of Figure 21 the active and the lull phases of the tidal flare cycle
are marked by arrows pointing upwards, and by white triangles pointing
downwards. Observed proton events and X-ray bursts B X3 are indicated by
Pand X. They match the phases of activity without exception. In 1982 the steep
ascent marked by a triangle pointing upwards had as strong effects as the slow
ascent marked by a fat arrow; but the latter category showed a stronger overall
effect since 1970. When all 118 X-ray bursts 3 X2 observed since 1970 are
tested, 96 of them fit active phases in the tidal cycle, and onIy 22 inactive ones.
A Fearson-test yields the value 47 for 1 degree of freedom (P < 0.00002). AII
events 3 X6 fell into the active periods. As the sample covers more than 40
cycIes, the result seems to indicate a dependable relationship.
In the spectra of energetic X-ray flaris presented in ~igures 16 and 17, the
two prominent peaks in the range of higher frequencies at 1.1 and 1.2 months
are clearly set off though they are close together. The 1.2-month amplitude
has been explained to be a harmonic of the torque cycle. The tidal cycle is
involved too. The exact period of the neighbouring amplitude in the spectra