Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2011-11-25
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Accepted for publication in Nuclear Inst. and Methods in Physics Research, A
Scientific paper
10.1016/j.nima.2011.11.044
In this paper we present simulated solar coronal X-ray observations to verify the sensitivity of a new hypothetical instrument design. These simulations are folded through this X-ray spectrometer having a moderate size circular field of view of 1.6 degrees. This SCXM (Solar Coronal X-ray Mapper) is designed to compose of a single pixel silicon PIN detector equipped with a single reflection double frustum X-ray optics. A moderate FoV would enable a morphological study of the expanded X-ray emission from the solar corona during a high activity of the Sun. The main scientific task of SCXM would be the mapping of the coronal X-ray emission, i.e. to resolve the radial distribution of the X-ray surface brightness around the Sun. These kind of off-limb observations would help to interpret the coronal plasma diagnostics as a function of the elongation angle. Direct solar full disc observations could be also performed with SCXM. In this work we have applied real solar coronal X-ray data obtained by the SMART-1 XSM (X-ray Solar Monitor) to simulate on-solar observations at different flux levels to derive full disc sensitivity and performance of SCXM. A challenging attempt for SCXM would also be to distinguish the X-ray spectrum of the decaying axions around the Sun. These axions are assumed to be created as side products of fusion reactions in the core of the Sun. These axions are predicted to be gravitationally trapped to orbit the Sun forming a halo-like X-ray emitting object. No signature of an axion X-ray emission around the Sun has been observed to this day. This simple X-ray spectrometer with an optical concentrator would be an inexpensive instrument with low mass and telemetry budgets compared with more accurate X-ray instruments of imaging capability. Hence SCXM would be an advanced choice as an auxiliary instrument for solar coronal X-ray observations.
Alha Lauri
Huovelin Juhani
Nevalainen Jukka
No associations
LandOfFree
Simulated performance of a single pixel PIN spectrometer SCXM equipped with concentrator optics in Solar coronal X-ray observations does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Simulated performance of a single pixel PIN spectrometer SCXM equipped with concentrator optics in Solar coronal X-ray observations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Simulated performance of a single pixel PIN spectrometer SCXM equipped with concentrator optics in Solar coronal X-ray observations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-174945