High-Energy Solar Capabilities of Approved Space Missions
Abstract
Several instruments on approved space missions will provide coverage of energetic solar flare activity during the next solar maximum. However, only Japan's SOLAR-A is dedicated to observations of solar activity. These planned experiments will provide significant improvements in detection sensitivity for gamma rays and neutrons, generally using similar detection techniques to those employed previously. Improvements in the temporal resolution of energetic flare phenomena will also be realized, but with generally sporadic solar coverage. Important capabilities critically required for advancing our understanding of the solar flare phenomenon, such as dedicated high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy, imaging hard X-ray and low-energy gamma-ray detectors, polarimeters, and dedicated high-efficiency neutron detectors, are not included on any of the approved missions.
- Publication:
-
Solar Physics
- Pub Date:
- March 1988
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF00148600
- Bibcode:
- 1988SoPh..118..347K
- Keywords:
-
- Energetic Particles;
- Gamma Ray Astronomy;
- Solar Flares;
- Solar Neutrons;
- Space Missions;
- Gamma Ray Spectrometers;
- Mars Observer;
- Ulysses Mission;
- X Ray Spectra;
- Solar Physics;
- Flare;
- Solar Activity;
- Solar Flare;
- Solar Maximum;
- Neutron Detector