The D-CIXS X-ray mapping spectrometer on SMART-1

The D-CIXS Compact X-ray Spectrometer will provide high quality spectroscopic mapping of the Moon, the primary science target of the ESA SMART-1 mission. D-CIXS consists of a high throughput spectrometer, which will perform spatially localised X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. It will also carry a solar monitor, to provide the direct calibration needed to produce a global map of absolute lunar elemental abundances, the first time this has been done. Thus it will achieve ground breaking science within a resource envelope far smaller than previously thought possible for this type of instrument, by exploiting two new technologies, swept charge devices and micro-structure collimators. The new technology does not require cold running, with its associated overheads to the spacecraft. At the same time it will demonstrate a radically novel approach to building a type of instrument essential for the BepiColombo mission and potential future planetary science targets.     

The D-CIXS X-ray spectrometer on the SMART-1 mission to the Moon—First results

The SMART-1 mission has recently arrived at the Moon. Its payload includes D-CIXS, a compact X-ray spectrometer. SMART-1 is a technology evaluation mission, and D-CIXS is the first of a new generation of planetary X-ray spectrometers. Novel technologies enable new capabilities for measuring the fluorescent yield of a planetary surface or atmosphere which is illuminated by solar X-rays. During the extended SMART-1 cruise phase, observations of the Earth showed strong argon emission, providing a good source for calibration and demonstrating the potential of the technique. At the Moon, our initial observations over Mare Crisium show a first unambiguous remote sensing of calcium in the lunar regolith. Data obtained are broadly consistent with current understanding of mare and highland composition. Ground truth is provided by the returned Luna 20 and 24 sample sets.     

Scientific rationale for the D-CIXS X-ray spectrometer on board ESA's SMART-1 mission to the Moon

The D-CIXS X-ray spectrometer on ESA's SMART-1 mission will provide the first global coverage of the lunar surface in X-rays, providing absolute measurements of elemental abundances. The instrument will be able to detect elemental Fe, Mg, Al and Si under normal solar conditions and several other elements during solar flare events. These data will allow for advances in several areas of lunar science, including an improved estimate of the bulk composition of the Moon, detailed observations of the lateral and vertical nature of the crust, chemical observations of the maria, investigations into the lunar regolith, and mapping of potential lunar resources. In combination with information to be obtained by the other instruments on SMART-1 and the data already provided by the Clementine and Lunar Prospector missions, this information will allow for a more detailed look at some of the fundamental questions that remain regarding the origin and evolution of the Moon.     

Strong coronal shocks and ‘thermal’ solar X-ray bursts

I find that a one-dimensional strong coronal shock (M _s 3) will grow outward until the Mach number (M _s ) ceases to increase with height (dM _s /dh = 0). The shock is driven by the pressure gradient and it is damped by gravity and by energy losses (radiative and conductive). The driving and damping terms reach equilibrium for M _s - 4.Standard shock jump conditions for M _s - 4 lead to post-shock temperatures in the corona in the range 10⁷ to 1.8 × 10⁷K and emission measures from 3.8 × 10⁴⁷ to 3.8 × 10⁴⁸ cm^-3. For isolated simple events, I predict an exponential decay of the emission measure with decay times in the range 1 6.5 min.In a detailed study of over 4000 X-ray bursts, Drake (1970) compares 1 to 6 keV X-ray data with 7.7 to 12.5 keV X-ray data (the thermal component) and finds ranges for the temperatures of 1.2 × 10⁷ to 1.8 × 10⁷K, for the emission measures of 5.1 × 10⁴⁷ to 3.8 x 10⁴⁸ cm^-3 and for the decay times 0.5 20 min. He also finds that the emission measure varies ... both from event to event and within the event, by more than a factor of two.The agreement between the predictions and the observations makes it appear that a strong shock in the corona will produce a post-shock state that yields the observed characteristics of the soft component of X-ray bursts (the thermal X-rays).I give several examples where sprays and fast eruptive prominences 1} \right)$$ " align="middle" border="0"> , that are not associated with solar flares, are associated with thermal X-ray bursts. There were two slow eruptive prominences (M 1) in the sample, and neither of them yielded a detectable X-ray burst.Now at the Dept. of Physics and Astronomy (NASA), Univ. of New Mexico; Albuquerque, N.M. 87106.     

Radio and X-ray imaging observations of solar flares and coronal transients

We present a review of selected studies based upon simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of solar flares and coronal transients. We use primarily the observations made with large radio imaging instruments (VLA, BIMA, Nobeyama, and Nançay) along with Yohkoh/SXT and HXT and CGRO experiments. We review the recent work on millimeter imaging of solar flares, microwave and hard X-ray observations of footpoint emission from flaring loops, metric type IV continuum bursts, and coronal X-ray structures. We discuss the recent studies on thermal and nonthermal processes in coronal transients such as XBP flares, coronal X-ray jets, and active region transient brightenings.Dedicated to Cornelis de Jager     

Scientific objectives and selection of targets for the SMART-1 Infrared Spectrometer (SIR)

The European SMART-1 mission to the Moon, primarily a testbed for innovative technologies, was launched in September 2003 and will reach the Moon in 2005. On board are several scientific instruments, including the point-spectrometer SMART-1 Infrared Spectrometer (SIR). Taking into account the capabilities of the SMART-1 mission and the SIR instrument in particular, as well as the open questions in lunar science, a selection of targets for SIR observations has been compiled. SIR can address at least five topics: (1) Surface/regolith processes; (2) Lunar volcanism; (3) Lunar crust structure; (4) Search for spectral signatures of ices at the lunar poles; and (5) Ground truth and study of geometric effects on the spectral shape. For each topic we will discuss specific observation modes, necessary to achieve our scientific goals. The majority of SIR targets will be observed in the nadir-tracking mode. More than 100 targets, which require off-nadir pointing and off-nadir tracking, are planned. It is expected that results of SIR observations will significantly increase our understanding of the Moon. Since the exact arrival date and the orbital parameters of the SMART-1 spacecraft are not known yet, a more detailed planning of the scientific observations will follow in the near future.     

The advanced Moon micro-imager experiment (AMIE) on SMART-1: Scientific goals and expected results

The advanced Moon micro-imager experiment (AMIE) is the imaging system on board ESA mission to the Moon SMART-1; it makes use of a miniaturised detector and micro-processor electronics developed by SPACE X in the frame of the ESA technical programme. The AMIE micro-imager will provide high resolution CCD images of selected lunar areas and it will perform colour imaging through three filters at 750, 915 and 960 nm with a maximum resolution of 46 m/pixel at the perilune of 500 km. Specific scientific objectives will include (1) imaging of high latitude regions in the southern hemisphere, in particular the South Pole Aitken basin (SPA) and the permanently shadowed regions close to the South Pole, (2) determination of the photometric properties of the lunar surface from observations at different phase angles (physical properties of the regolith), (3) multi-band imaging for constraining the chemical and mineral composition of the surface, (4) detection and characterisation of lunar non-mare volcanic units, (5) study of lithological variations from impact craters and implications for crustal heterogeneity. The AMIE micro-imager will also support a Laser-link experiment to Earth, an On Board Autonomous Navigation investigation and a Lunar libration experiment coordinated with radio science measurements.     

The relationship between the duration of solar X-ray flares and the mass of associated coronal ejections

The statistical relationship between the parameters of X-ray flares and coronal mass ejections on the Sun that are associated with these flares, is considered. It is shown that short X-ray flares are characterized on average by a lower mass ejection in the outer layers of the corona and interplanetary space as compared to high-energy long-duration events.     

Plasma diagnostics and simulation for the SMART-1 mission

SMART-1 is a technology demonstrator for using primary electric propulsion on interplanetary spacecraft. Hence, studying of the interaction of the plasma emitted by the thruster with the environment and the spacecraft is one of the top priorities during the mission. Two experiments (Electronic propulsion diagnostic package and Spacecraft potential, electron and dust experiment) are available to measure the electron densities and temperatures as well as wave electric fields during the operation of the electric propulsion thruster. Additionally, a retarding potential analyser, a quartz microbalance and a solar-cell sample will analyse data from slow charge-exchange ions which are a potential contamination source. ESTEC is developing a 3D particle-in-cell model in order to study the spacecraft/environment interactions on SMART-1 and interpret the measurements. In the present paper, we will review the contamination effects associated with electric propulsion and how the plasma sensors cover them. We further present preliminary results from the numerical simulation and show how the flight data will be used to validate the modelling code. A successful validation of the simulation will support future interplanetary and commercial missions featuring electric propulsion to reduce the risk of contamination and interference with on board instruments.     

Thermal trigger for solar flares and coronal loops formation

A longitudinal stability is considered for the quasi-steady current sheet which is uniform along the current. In the MHD approximation, the stability problem is solved for the plane neutral sheet and small disturbances propagating along the current. The current sheet is shown to break-up into the system of cooler and more dense filaments due to radiative cooling. The filaments are parallel to magnetic field lines. This process corresponds to the condensation mode of a thermal instability and can play a trigger role for a solar flare. Moreover, at the nonlinear stage of development, it can lead to the formation of very dense cold filaments surrounded by high-temperature low-density plasma inside the current sheet. Flowing into the filaments, hot plasma is cooled by radiation and compressed. Then the cold dense plasma flows out from the current sheet along the filaments. We think that the process under consideration is responsible for the often observed picture of an arcade of cold loops in the solar corona.The text of this paper was written by B. V. Somov after the death of Prof. S. I. Syrovatskii.     

The experiment with the fast X-ray monitor (BRM) instrument onboard the CORONAS-PHOTON satellite

The “Fast X-ray Monitor” (BRM) instrument operated in the complex of the scientific instruments onboard the CORONAS-PHOTON satellite from February 19, 2009, until December 1, 2009. The instrument is intended for the registration of the hard X-ray radiation of solar flares in the 20–600 keV energy range in six differential energy channels (20–30, 30–40, 40–50, 50–70, 70–130, and 130–600 keV) with temporal resolution to 1 ms. In the instrument, a detector based on the YAP: Ce scintillator is used; this detector is 70 mm in diameter and 10 mm thick (the decay time is about 28 ns). For the decrease of the back-ground charge of the detector, the collimator limiting the angle of view of the instrument of value 12° is mounted over the scintillator. The effective area of the detector amounts to 27.7 cm² (at the X-ray radiation energy 80 keV), and the dead time of the detector is 1 μs. Over the operation onboard the CORONAS-PHOTON satellite, the BRM instrument has registered gamma ray burst series and, perhaps, one solar flare of the class C1.3 on October 26, 2009.     

The structure of coronal arcades and the formation of solar prominences

The temperature and density are obtained for coronal plasma in thermal and hydrostatic equilibrium and located in a force-free magnetic arcade. The isotherms are found to be inclined to the magnetic field lines and so care should be taken in inferring the magnetic structure from observed emission.When the coronal pressure becomes too great, the equilibrium ceases to exist and the material cools to form a quiescent prominence. The same process can be initiated at low heating rates when the width or shear of the arcade exceeds a critical value.We suggest that the prominence should be modelled as a dynamic structure with plasma always draining downwards. Material is continually sucked up along field lines of the ambient arcade and into the region lacking a hot equilibrium, where it cools to form new prominence material.     

Improved solar coronal temperature for equal green and red line intensities

An improved value of the temperature in the solar corona for equal green and red line intensities is obtained. This temperature is in better agreement with a quoted line-width value than the previous theoretical ones.     

Perturbations of a twisted solar coronal loop: The relation between surface waves and instabilities

The spectrum of propagating waves and instabilities on a current-carrying, zero gas pressure, twisted magnetic flux loop is analysed for several models of the magnetic field structure. A surface wave mode of the fast Alfvén wave is found to exist, with damping of the wave when Alfvén resonance absorption occurs. If the loop is surrounded by a uniform, purely axial magnetic field, then the surface wave is always stable. If the loop is surrounded by a nonuniform field which is continuous with the loop's field, then the surface wave may connect to the unstable external kink mode.     

Wide field X-ray monitor on board the High Energy Transient Experiment (HETE)

The High-Energy Transient Experiment (HETE) is designed for the multiwavelengths study of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) in UV, X-ray and gamma-ray range with three scientific instruments. The X-ray instrument, Wide-field X-ray Monitor (WXM), consists of four units of one-dimensional position sensitive gas proportional counters and two perpendicularly oriented one-dimensional coded apertures. The WXM has a wide FOV of 1.5 steradian together with the capability to locate GRBs with 10 arcmin accuracy, and covers photon energies of 2 to 25 keV with an energy resolution of typically 18 % at 6 keV, measuring wide band spectra together with the gamma-ray spectrometer (FREGATE). The coded X-ray image will be deconvolved on board and the GRB location will be provided to the UV camera within 1 sec . GRB locations will also be broadcast in real time to ground-based observers for follow-up observations.     

On the relationships between sfe (crochet) and solar X-ray and microwave bursts

Geomagnetic crochets (sfe) observed at Kodaikanal over the period 1966–71 have been studied in relation to solar X-ray bursts observed by NRL satellite (SOLRAD-9) in the 0.5–3 Å, 1–8 Å and 8–20 Å bands and radio bursts observed in the frequency range 1000–17000 MHz. The amplitude of sfe is linearly correlated with the peak intensities of X-ray bursts in the 1–8 Å and 8–20 Å bands. The single frequency correlation of sfe with radio bursts is a flat maximum in the frequency range 2000–3750 MHz. Following the spectral classification of AFCRL for microwave bursts, it is noticed that sfe are mostly associated with the A type burst spectra and are very poorly correlated with bursts with the G, C and M type spectra. These features differ from those of other SID's reported earlier.     

The analysis and interpretation of solar X-ray photographs

This paper discusses the methods used to analyse and interpret X-ray filtergrams obtained by solar soft X-ray telescopes such as the S-056 Skylab instrument. First, an appropriate definition of the line-of-sight emission measure _L(T) is developed, and it is shown how the X-ray data may be analysed to obtain an approximation to _L(T). The accuracy of this approximation is severely limited by the mathematical ill-conditioning of the problem, and additional constraints on the solutions must be imposed through the use of a specific model of the coronal region under study. Such a model is also required for the proper interpretation of the results in terms of coronal plasma processes. Examples of such models are provided and the forms of _L(T) derived from them compared with other, semi-empirical forms.The filter ratio method (a simplified form of analysis in which the region under study is assumed isothermal) is discussed. It is shown that in the presence of line-of-sight temperature gradients, the values of effective temperature and emission measure yielded by this method cannot be directly related to the physical state of the plasma and so are of little utility in the study of coronal processes.Now at: Institute for Plasma Research, Stanford University, Via Crespi, Stanford, Calif. 94305, U.S.A.