NuSTAR X-ray observations of small flares and non-flaring active regions
Abstract
We present imaging spectroscopy of the Sun with the NuSTAR hard X-ray (HXR) telescope, an astrophysics mission that uses focusing optics to directly image X-rays between ~2-80 keV. Although not optimized for solar observations, NuSTAR's high sensitivity can probe previously inaccessible X-ray emission from the Sun - crucial for searching for high temperature and non-thermal emission from "non-flaring" active regions. We present analysis of the first NuSTAR solar observations, that began in late 2014 and continued through 2015. These include using its imaging spectroscopy capabilities to derive the thermal characteristics of several "non-flaring" active regions, providing limits to the high temperature emission. We also show NuSTAR observations of several small microflares that were also observed by Hinode/XRT (in multiple thicker filters sensitive to higher temperatures) and RHESSI. This combination of three separate X-ray telescopes provides a broad observational characterization of active region heating by these very small microflares.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015AGUFMSH31D..03H
- Keywords:
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- 7507 Chromosphere;
- SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY;
- 7509 Corona;
- SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY;
- 7519 Flares;
- SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY;
- 7546 Transition region;
- SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY