New constraints on the formation of the helium lines

Dept. of Physics (Theoretical Physics), 1 Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3NP, UK

Abstract

We analyse observations of the helium lines obtained with CDS onboard SOHO. The He i 584.3 Å/O iii intensity ratio shows a lower limit and an upper limit that decrease with increasing O iii intensity. At low O iii intensities this ratio increases significantly. An upper limit arises naturally if the enhancement mechanism involves turbulent motions transporting the helium atoms and ions through the steep transition region temperature gradient. The He i 537.0-Å/He i 584.3-Å and He ii 303.8-Å/He i 584.3-Å intensity ratios both decrease as the He i 584.3-Å line intensity increases. The values of the line ratios support the enhancement of the helium lines by turbulent motions, but appear to rule out the enhancement due to excitation by non-thermal coronal electrons.