X-Ray Emission Associated with Filament Activity

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate the temporal and spatial relationships of activated filaments, soft X-ray production, and Ha flares. The X-ray data are from the Lockheed Mapping X-Ray Heliometer (MXRH) on 0S0-8 (Wolfson et al., 1975, 1977). This instrument has been operating continuously since July 1975. It responds to radiation from solar plasma above about 2 × 106K, provides a time resolution of 20 sec, a spatial resolution of 2-3 arc min and has a basic sensitivity roughly equivalent to the 1-8 Å full disc monitors of, e.g., the SOLRAD and SMS/GOES satellites (threshold ≈ 2 × 10-9W/m2). However, because of its spatial resolution the MXRH permits study of small X-ray events in individual active regions even when the integrated solar X-ray emission is high.