Enhanced Emission at the Infrared Continuum in the Flare of 2001 March 10

We have obtained a time series of two-dimensional spectra of Hα and Ca II λ8542 for a flare on 2001 March 10. This flare showed an enhanced emission at the continuum near the Ca II 8542 Å line. The continuum contrast is estimated to be 3%-5%. This emission lasted about half a minute, showing a good time correlation with the peak of the microwave radio flux at 7.58 GHz. The flare can be classified as a type I white-light flare. A preliminary analysis shows that a nonthermal electron beam cannot directly produce the continuum emission. Heating in the lower atmosphere resulting from the radiative backwarming may account for the continuum enhancement.