Abstract
Non-steady state and non-LTE effects on the ionisation equilibrium of hydrogen in optical flares are considered in terms of a two-level hydrogen atom. It is shown that, just as in the quiet low chromosphere, the ionisation equation is controlled by spontaneous recombination to the second level and by photoionisation from this level by photospheric radiation, and is independent of the nature of the flare energy input mechanism.
Adjustment of the ionisation then occurs on the recombination time scale which is short compared to the flare heating time scale. Consequently the ionisation is given by a simple LTE-modification of Saha's equation at the instantaneous electron temperature obtained from the energy equation. These conclusions are contrasted with those of previous authors who, by using one-level atoms only, have omitted the optically thin Balmer continuum which dominates the optically thick Lyman transitions.
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Brown, J.C. On the ionisation of hydrogen in optical flares. Sol Phys 29, 421–427 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00150822
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00150822