The quantitative interpretation of solar X-ray images

We examine the interpretation of plasma parameters derived by quantitative analysis of solar X-ray photographs obtained through broad band filters. We find some of the recent criticisms of the filter ratio method to be unfounded. Using active region and quiet Sun emission measures derived mostly from spectroscopic observations we find that effective emission measures and temperatures derived from S-054 data by filter ratio analysis are within better than 20% of the total emission measure and average temperature, respectively. The uncertainties associated with filtered flux determination are found to produce an error of about 10% in the derived effective temperature. We thus conclusively demonstrate that parameters derived from S-054 data by filter ratio analysis are representative of the observed active region and quiet Sun material.