Analysis of a multi-wavelength time-resolved observation of a coronal loop

Abstract

Several items on the diagnostics and interpretation of coronal loop observations are under debate. In this work, we analyze a well-defined loop system detected in a time-resolved observation in several spectral bands. The dataset includes simultaneous images in the TRACE 171 A, 195 A and 284 A bands, and Yohkoh/SXT, and two rasters taken with SoHO/CDS in twelve relevant lines. The loop is initially best visible in the TRACE 195 A filter band, and later in the 171 A filter band, with correspondence with the CDS raster images at log T \~ 6.0-6.1. We have taken as pixel-by-pixel background the latest TRACE, Yohkoh and CDS images where the loop has faded out. We examine the loop morphology evolution, the light curves, the TRACE filter ratio distribution and evolution, the images and emission measure from the CDS spectral lines. Our analysis detects that, after background subtraction, the emission along the loop and its evolution are non-uniform, especially in the 171 A filter band, and that the TRACE 195/171 filter ratio has a moderately non-uniform distribution along the loop and evolves in time. Both the light curves and the filter ratio evolution indicate a globally cooling loop. Relatively hot plasma may be present at the beginning while, during the first CDS raster, the data indicate a rather moderate thermal structuring of the loop. Our data analysis supports a coherent scenario across the different bands and instruments, points out difficulties in diagnostic methods and puts quantitative basis for detailed forward modeling.