Systematic photometry of XUV solar images

Units and methods have been devised to express the photometry of solar XUV images. The source and limb-brightened fluxes are given in terms of the sun's quiet central intensity. Measurements made on this system can be meaningfully compared with solar data and with theoretical predictions. Calculations have been made of the XUV distribution for optically thin solar models and results have been converted onto the measurement system. Photometric measurements have been made from four films lent by the Culham and Leicester Laboratories. Certain inconsistencies suggest that the measurement accuracy is not yet good enough for definitive results. However, there is evidence that: (a) the X-ray emission sources are brighter, relative to the quiet sun, than the longer wave EUV sources; (b) X-ray limb photons all escape (i.e. limb optically thin) but EUV limb emission is affected by absorption; and (c) the observed image diameter fits an emission scale height of 0.05 .