Erratum: “Localized Enhancements of Fe+10 Density in the Corona as Observed in Fe XI 789.2 nm during the 2006 March 29 Total Solar Eclipse” (ApJ, 663, 598 [2007])

Abstract

The first image of the full solar corona in the Fe XI 789.2 nm spectral line, acquired during the total solar eclipse of 29 March 2006, with a sequence of 7, 2 and 0.5 second exposures, revealed a surprisingly extended emission out to at least 2R. Enhancements in the Fe XI intensity, with no corresponding enhancements in white light, appeared in different parts of the corona at heights ranging from 1.2 to 1.5R, indicative of an increase of the local Fe10+ density in comparison to the electron density. The extension of the emission is attributed to the dominance of resonant excitation compared to collisional excitation in the formation of the line, a dominance that occurs closer to the solar limb than for the more frequently observed lines of Fe X 637.4 nm and Fe XIV 530.3 nm. The localized enhancements of Fe10+ density can be accounted for by the decoupling of ions and protons there, and hence a localized build-up of ions, as a consequence of insufficient energy input to the ions. The most striking example of enhanced Fe XI intensity occurs above a system of prominences on the south-western limb. These observations are indicative of the existence of sheets of high-density plasma forming from within, or above, prominences, where the heating rate is low. Observations of the Fe XI 789.2 nm emission line, combined with observations in white light proves gives an useful new diagnostic tool for the study of the coronal plasma. Such observations are suitable for existing or future coronagraphs.

Full text

ERRATUM: ‘‘LOCALIZED ENHANCEMENTS OF Fe
+10
DENSITY IN THE CORONA AS OBSERVED
IN Fe xi 789.2 nm DURING THE 2006 MARCH 29 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE’’ (ApJ, 663, 598 [2007])
Shadia Rifai Habbal, Huw Morgan, Judd Johnson, Martina Belz Arndt,
Adrian Daw, Sarah Jaeggli, Jeff Kuhn, and Don Mickey
The eclipse image of Figure 3 was provided to the authors by Jackob Strikis of the Elizabeth Observatory, Athens, who claimed au-
thorship. However, shortly after publication the authors discovered that this eclipse image was in fact a preliminary version of an ima ge
belonging to Prof. Miloslav Druckmu
¨
ller, taken during the 2006 total solar eclipse from Libya at 30

56.946
0
N, 24

14.301
0
E, and at
an altitude of 158 m. This image can be found at http://www.zam.fme.vutbr.cz /~druck/Eclipse/index.htm. We extend our gratitude
to Prof. Druckmu
¨
ller, from Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic, who brought this incident to our attention, and who
has graciously accepted our apology for this unintentional mishap. A forthcoming article in collaboration with Prof. Druckmu
¨
ller is in
preparation.
The Astrophysical Journal, 670:1521, 2007 December 1
# 2007. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
1521