Solar Flares at High Spatial and Temporal Resolution
Abstract
Solar flares vary in magnitude and duration from rare white-light flares to common microflares and other sub-arcsec resolution rapid energy releases. They represent the rapid transformation of the magnetic energy into thermal energy, particle acceleration and mass flows. Flares are phenomena which manifest themselves over a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Although they are often viewed as high-energy processes which occur primarily in the corona, the response of the photosphere and chromosphere to the flare energy transport is very complex, and the energy radiated from the lower atmosphere forms an important part of the energy budget. It is therefore essential that the photospheric and chromospheric signatures and processes involved are well understood. A detailed investigation of flare phenomena at high spatial and temporal resolutions was carried out, primarily employing the new solar imager, ROSA (Rapid Oscillations in the Solar Atmosphere). ROSA is a 6-CCD system capable of observing the Sun simultaneously in multiple wavebands at a cadence of up to 200 Hz (30 Hz for the full 1K 1K chip). ROSA is being developed as a common-user instrument, and is available on the Dunn Solar Telescope (DST) at the National Solar Observatory (NSO) Sacramento Peak. It provides high cadence, high spatial resolution observations of the solar atmosphere, and allows the investigation of solar oscillatory phenomena and impulsive events at an unprecedented level of detail. The report includes summaries of research outputs covered by this grant. It focuses on results that have been published or have been submitted for publication to refereed journals. Where the work has been published or accepted for publication the relevant reference is listed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA570709
Entities
People
- Mihalis Mathioudakis
Organizations
- Queen's University Belfast