Characterizing Temperatures of FOXSI-2 Microflares Using RHESSI and AIA Observations
Abstract
The second flight of the Focusing Optics X-ray Solar Imager sounding rocket payload (FOXSI-2) was successfully completed on December 11, 2014. FOXSI's direct imaging technology allows it to measure hard X-ray (HXR) emissions from the Sun with superior dynamic range and sensitivity relative to indirect HXR observations. During the December FOXSI-2 flight, several microflares were observed. We wish to characterize the temperature distributions of these microflares using supporting measurements in order to validate the FOXSI spectral response. The temperature distribution of solar plasma is best described by the differential emission measure (DEM), a physical quantity that characterizes the amount of material present in the corona in each temperature range. To determine the DEM, we employ multi-wavelength extreme ultraviolet observations by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (SDO/AIA) using a regularization method. We also perform isothermal fitting of thermal X-ray spectra from the Reuven Ramaty Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI). This poster will show the temperature distribution for each of the December 11 microflares and compare these results with those obtained from FOXSI-2.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015AGUFMSH43B2453H
- Keywords:
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- 7599 General or miscellaneous;
- SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY;
- 7899 General or miscellaneous;
- SPACE PLASMA PHYSICS;
- 7999 General or miscellaneous;
- SPACE WEATHER