Current and future solar observation using focusing hard X-ray imagers
Abstract
The efficient processes that accelerate particles in solar flares are not currently understood. Hard X-rays (HXRs) are one of the best diagnostics of flare-accelerated electrons, and therefore of acceleration processes. Past and current solar HXR observers rely on indirect Fourier imaging and thus lack the necessary sensitivity and imaging dynamic range to make detailed studies of faint HXR sources in the solar corona (where particle acceleration is thought to occur). A future generation of solar HXR observers will instead likely rely on direct HXR focusing, which can provide far superior sensitivity and imaging dynamic range.The first wave of focused solar HXR studies is already underway, including sounding rocket and high-altitude balloon payloads, and, in the near future, solar observation by the NuSTAR astrophysics observatory. This poster will (1) summarize the capabilities of current solar HXR instruments, comparing the science that can be done from each platform, and (2) discuss the scientific power of a future, dedicated, spaceborne observatory optimized to observe HXRs from the Sun.
- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #224
- Pub Date:
- June 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014AAS...22412364G