Chromospheric Flares

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Abstract
A brief account of the observed properties of chromospheric flares is followed by a theory of their origin. This theory involves electric fields produced by variations in the magnetic flux through a nearby sunspot, as discussed in a previous paper. If the electric field exceeds a certain value, then electrons acquire sufficient energy to excite hydrogen atoms at collisions, and flares may result. The theory shows that flares should occur in specific locations, which depend largely on the configuration of the magnetic field, in the neighbourhood of spot groups. The majority of the well-known features of flares, including their occurrence in the chromosphere, their stationary nature, their sudden beginning, and their correlation with the rate of growth of spots, are accounted for, and the theory also accounts for the amount of radiation emitted.

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