耀斑日冕硬X射线源观测研究

对于足点被日面边缘遮挡住的耀斑的观测研究是诊断日冕硬X射线辐射的一个重要方法.通过统计分析RHESSI (Reuven Ramaty High-Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager)卫星观测到的71个此类耀斑硬X射线源发现,前人提出的两类源,即日冕X射线辐射中热辐射与非热辐射源区空间分离较小的源和分离较大的源,在能谱、成像、光变曲线以及GOES持续时间等方面都没有显著的区别,其中辐射区的面积、耀斑总热能以及GOES持续时间与分离距离之间有很好的相关性.这些结果支持近年来提出的一些耀斑统一模型.同时也表明Masuda耀斑只是一类非常特殊的事件,不具有日冕硬X射线辐射的一般特征.     

ASO-S卫星HXI量能器探测单元的标定

先进天基太阳天文台卫星(Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory, ASO-S)是中国科学院第2批空间科学先导专项之一,其主要目标是同时观测太阳磁场、耀斑和日冕物质抛射,并对3者之间的相互关系和内在联系进行研究.硬X射线成像仪(HXI)是ASOS卫星的3大载荷之一,它通过对太阳活动发射的硬X射线进行傅里叶调制成像,实现高空间分辨率和高时间分辨率的太阳能谱成像观测.量能器单机是HXI的关键单机之一,其主要任务是精准测量通过每对光栅后太阳硬X射线的能量和通量.主要介绍了量能器单机的工作原理及其关键指标要求、标定设备及标定方案,最后给出了标定结果,从而验证了量能器单机方案设计的合理性.     

耀斑软X射线流量的统计性质

为了更定量地研究太阳耀斑软X射线辐射的统计性质,发展了一套对于给定峰值流量区间的耀斑的自动识别程序,并用它分析了从1980年到2013年GOES(Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite)在两个软X射线波段上对太阳耀斑的观测.研究发现耀斑软X射线流量在峰值附近变化的统计特征和耀斑流量峰值的绝对大小无关:平均而言耀斑流量的上升时间约是下降时间的一半,而且高能量通道的上升和下降时间比相应的低能量通道时间要短,但是这些时间还是会随着耀斑流量变化幅度的增加而增加.     

修正的Neupert效应

Neupert效应的定性描述是耀斑中脉冲分量(硬X射线、微波暴)与渐变分量(软X射线发射)之间存在的因果关系,即耀斑最初的能量是以加速粒子的形式释放,加速的电子在大气传输过程中产生非热硬X射线轫致辐射,并加热大气,耀斑软X射线发射是高能粒子注入大气的响应.根据经典Neupert效应的定量描述,硬X射线发射(表征非热电子注入)结束时软X射线应该立刻达到极大,但以往的观测发现一些耀斑软X射线峰值时间(t2)明显晚于硬X射线结束时间(t1)(τ=t2–t1,τ 0),热与非热辐射之间存在明显的偏离经典Neupert效应的情况.为了研究偏离经典Neupert效应的事件,在2002—2015年间的RHESSI (Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager)和GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites)耀斑列表中,按照在25–50 keV范围内光变较简单、软X射线有对应发射峰等判据,共选择276个耀斑样本,统计了这些耀斑的τ分布、环长d (用双足点源之间的距离来表征)与τ的关系.结果显示:(1)有227个耀斑τ 0,即有约82%的耀斑偏离经典Neupert效应;(2)τ与d之间存在一定的线性相关,即环越长,软X射线极大的时间越延后;(3)似乎存在一个临界距离,当环长小于临界距离时,经典Neupert效应成立.这些结果印证了修正Neupert效应的必要性,并对其物理意义进行了讨论.     

天宫2号POLAR探测器的低能X射线在轨定标

伽马暴偏振探测仪(POLAR)是天宫2号实验室上搭载的一个γ射线偏振仪,于2016年9月15日搭载在天宫2号进入低轨运行,主要用于探测在50-500 keV能区的硬X射线辐射的线偏振.POLAR由25个模块组成,每个模块有64个塑料闪烁体棒,总计有1600个塑料闪烁体棒,具有较大的有效探测面积和视场.在轨运行期间探测到多个小耀斑,它们的硬X射线光子能量通常小于50 keV,无法直接使用在轨和地面的高能定标结果来进行能谱分析.结合拉马第太阳高能光谱成像探测器(RHESSI)对耀斑SOL2016112907能谱的观测和蒙特卡洛模拟,对耀斑期间被激活的闪烁体棒进行能量低于50 keV的低能相对定标.虽然定标得到的能量阈值(～10 keV)和转换因子相对稳定,但是和高能定标给出的结果相比有显著差异,并且不同闪烁体棒显示出的差异没有明显的规律性.     

针对ASO-S/HXI光栅摆放角分布的测试与分析

先进天基太阳天文台(ASO-S)卫星的3大载荷之一硬X射线成像仪(Hard X-ray Imager, HXI)是一套基于傅立叶变换调制成像技术的望远镜.它利用91组不同摆放角和节距的光栅子准直器排列摆布,获得45个基于空间调制的傅立叶变换对,重建太阳耀斑源30–200 keV的硬X射线像,最高分辨率可达3.1′′.在光栅节距已经确定的前提下,它的摆放角分布仍会影响成像质量.通过对HXI仪器傅立叶分量μν分布与点扩散函数(PSF)的空间演化关系分析研究,寻求HXI光栅摆放角的最优分布.其结果将作为改进HXI仪器设计和开发相应科学分析软件的依据.     

AR5395活动区演化中耀斑发生的周期性(摘要)

自1974年有连续的太阳软X射线辐射观测以来,AR5395是X射线耀斑产率最高的活动区,过日面13天内共产生106个X射线耀斑,其中X级耀斑就有11个,平均一天发生一次X级耀斑。用S.G.D.资料,对X射线峰值流量Fx,X射线耀斑出现率     

太阳硬X射线成像望远镜模拟研究

调制准直器型太阳硬X射线成像望远镜是目前较为通用的太阳观测设备.空间调制望远镜是基于中心轴不旋转的望远镜,适用于3轴稳定的卫星.针对我国可能的太阳观测计划,给出并比较了两组空间调制望远镜的配置方案,然后利用GEANT4高能物理通用软件模拟实际光子的计数情况,使用MATLAB实现图像重建.比较模拟光子计数得到的重建图与几...     

FMG载荷地面试观测导行跟踪系统的设计与实现

全日面矢量磁像仪(Full-disk vector MagnetoGraph, FMG)是先进天基太阳天文台(Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory, ASO-S)卫星的3台主载荷之一,为开展FMG全系统性能测试和定标试验,已搭建用于FMG外场测试的地面试观测平台.利用该平台模拟FMG在轨跟踪状态,研制了基于全日面太阳图像的望远镜导行系统.该系统通过大面阵CCD (Charge Coupled Device)采集太阳像、多重逻辑条件判定、微调恒动跟踪速度校正偏移等策略,实现了RMS (Root Mean Square)优于1′′/30 min的跟踪精度.通过分析FMG方案阶段试观测的太阳纵向磁图,开启导行30 min后磁图特征点在赤经方向的偏移比恒动条件下减少17.5′′,提升了磁图空间分辨率.测试过程中该系统达到设计指标且工作稳定,为FMG地面试观测提供了良好的技术支撑.     

太阳耀斑非热电子动力学研究

主要讨论太阳耀斑过程中非热电子动力学过程的理论模型以及在硬X射线和射电波段的观测特征。现在广为接受的非热电子动力学过程的模型是"俘获+沉降"模型,由电子的加速、注入、沉降、俘获及能量损失5个部分组成。射电和硬X射线爆发是非热电子在输运过程中与磁场、背景等离子体及其产生的波等相互作用的产物,是非热电子动力学过程的即时反映。通过分析射电和硬X射线辐射的流量、谱和成像特征,可以研究非热电子的空间分布和时间演化,研究非热电子输运过程中发生的碰撞、辐射、散射、波-波、波-粒相互作用等物理过程,研究耀斑磁场、背景等离子体特征,进而为太阳耀斑的磁场结构、太阳大气分布、磁重联模型的研究提供理论和观测依据。     

Hard X-ray Imager (HXI) onboard the ASO-S mission

Hard X-ray Imager(HXI) is one of the three scientific instruments onboard the Advanced Spacebased Solar Observatory(ASO-S) mission, which is proposed for the 25th solar maximum by the Chinese solar community. HXI is designed to investigate the non-thermal high-energy electrons accelerated in solar flares by providing images of solar flaring regions in the energy range from 30 keV to 200 keV. The imaging principle of HXI is based on spatially modulated Fourier synthesis and utilizes about 91 sets of bi-grid sub-collimators and corresponding LaBr_3 detectors to obtain Fourier components with a spatial resolution of about 3 arcsec and a time resolution better than 0.5 s. An engineering prototype has been developed and tested to verify the feasibility of design. In this paper, we present background, instrument design and the development and test status of the prototype.     

Simulations and software development for the Hard X-ray Imager onboard ASO-S

China's first solar mission, the Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory(ASO-S), is now changing from Phase B to Phase C. Its main scientific objectives are summarized as '1M2B', namely magnetic field and two types of bursts(solar flares and coronal mass ejections). Among the three scientific payloads,Hard X-ray Imager(HXI) observes images and spectra of X-ray bursts in solar flares. In this paper, we briefly report on the progresses made by the HXI science team(data and software team) during the design phase(till May 2019). These include simulations of HXI imaging, optimization of HXI grids, development of imaging algorithms, estimation of orbital background, as well as in-orbit calibration plan. These efforts provided guidance for the engineering, improved HXI's imaging capability and reduced the cost of the instrument.     

Design and verification of the HXI collimator on the ASO-S mission

A space-borne hard X-ray collimator, comprising 91 pairs of grids, has been developed for the Hard X-ray Imager(HXI). The HXI is one of the three scientific instruments onboard the first Chinese solar mission: the Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory(ASO-S). The HXI collimator(HXI-C) is a spatial modulation X-ray telescope designed to observe hard X-rays emitted by energetic electrons in solar flares.This paper presents the detailed design of the HXI-C for the qualification model that will be inherited by the flight model. Series tests on the HXI-C qualification model are reported to verify the ability of the HXI-C to survive the launch and to operate normally in on-orbit environments. Furthermore, results of the X-ray beam test for the HXI-C are presented to indirectly identify the working performance of the HXI-C.     

空间太阳硬X射线成像仪量能器读出电子学设计

先进天基太阳天文台(ASO-S)是中国科学院空间科学先导专项2期规划的太阳观测卫星,其针对第25个太阳活动峰年,同时观测太阳磁场、日冕物质抛射和太阳耀斑爆发.硬X射线成像仪(HXI)作为该卫星3个科学载荷之一,实现了高时间分辨率和空间分辨率的太阳硬X射线成像观测,其量能器由99套溴化镧闪烁晶体-光电倍增管探测单元和读出电子学板构成,实现了30–200 keV的硬X射线光子能谱测量.针对HXI量能器的观测需求,设计了一套空间高事例率读出电子学系统,并通过实验室测试,证明了该系统单事例读出死时间小于2μs,同时验证了该系统电子学噪声小于120 fC,积分非线性小于2%,满足HXI仪器要求.     

Design and development of the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope

Led by the National Solar Observatory, plans have been made to design and to develop the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST). The ATST will be a 4‐m general‐purpose solar telescope equipped with adaptive optics and versatile post‐focus instrumentation. Its main aim will be to achieve an angular resolution of 0.03 arcsec (20 km on the solar surface). The project and the telescope design are briefly described.     

Imaging X-ray Polarimeter for Solar Flares (IXPS)

We describe the design of a balloon-borne Imaging X-ray Polarimeter for Solar flares (IXPS). This novel instrument, a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) for photoelectric polarimetry, will be capable of measuring polarization at the few percent level in the 20?C50 keV energy range during an M- or X-class flare, and will provide imaging information at the ??10 arcsec level. The primary objective of such observations is to determine the directivity of nonthermal high-energy electrons producing solar hard X-rays, and hence to learn about the particle acceleration and energy release processes in solar flares. Secondary objectives include the separation of the thermal and nonthermal components of the flare X-ray emissions and the separation of photospheric albedo fluxes from direct emissions.     

Formation of Transient Coronal Holes during the Eruption of a Quiescent Filament and its Overlying Sigmoid

By using Hα, He I 10830, EUV and soft X-ray (SXR) data, we examined a filament eruption that occurred on a quiet-sun region near the center of the solar disk on 2006 January 12, which disturbed a sigmoid overlying the filament channel observed by the GOES-12 SXR Imager (SXI), and led to the eruption of the sigmoid. The event was associated with a partial halo coronal mass ejection (CME) observed by the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraphs (LASCO) on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), and resulted in the formation of two flare-like ribbons, post-eruption coronal loops, and two transient coronal holes (TCHs), but there were no significantly recorded GOES or Hα flares corresponding to the eruption. The two TCHs were dominated by opposite magnetic polarities and were located on the two ends of the eruptive sigmoid. They showed similar locations and shapes in He Ⅰ 10830, EUV and SXR observations. During the early eruption phase, brightenings first appeared on the locations of the two subsequent TCHs, which could be clearly identified on He Ⅰ 10830, EUV and SXR images. This eruption could be explained by the magnetic flux rope model, and the two TCHs were likely to be the feet of the flux rope.     

DeepSun:machine-learning-as-a-service for solar flare prediction

Solar flare prediction plays an important role in understanding and forecasting space weather.The main goal of the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager(HMI), one of the instruments on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, is to study the origin of solar variability and characterize the Sun's magnetic activity.HMI provides continuous full-disk observations of the solar vector magnetic field with high cadence data that lead to reliable predictive capability; yet, solar flare prediction effort utilizing these data is still limited. In this paper, we present a machine-learning-as-a-service(MLaa S) framework, called Deep Sun,for predicting solar flares on the web based on HMI's data products. Specifically, we construct training data by utilizing the physical parameters provided by the Space-weather HMI Active Region Patch(SHARP)and categorize solar flares into four classes, namely B, C, M and X, according to the X-ray flare catalogs available at the National Centers for Environmental Information(NCEI). Thus, the solar flare prediction problem at hand is essentially a multi-class(i.e., four-class) classification problem. The Deep Sun system employs several machine learning algorithms to tackle this multi-class prediction problem and provides an application programming interface(API) for remote programming users. To our knowledge, Deep Sun is the first MLaa S tool capable of predicting solar flares through the internet.