Solar flare soft X-ray spectra from Diogeness observations

Diogeness was an uncollimated scanning flat crystal spectrometer observing solar flare X-ray spectra in four narrow wavelength bands in the vicinity of Ca xix, S xv and Si xiii He-like line ‘triplets’ around 3.18 Å, 5.04 Å and 6.65 Å. In two of the spectral channels, emission lines around the Ca xix 3.178 Å resonance line were scanned in opposite directions, being diffracted from precisely adjusted identical Quartz crystals mounted on a common shaft in a so-called Dopplerometer (tachometer) configuration. Observations of solar X-ray spectra made by Diogeness provide a direct diagnostic information on plasma characteristics during the impulsive flare energy release. We present a sample of events which occurred during the Diogeness operation time from August 16, 2001 to September 17, 2001.

Soft X-ray polarimeter-spectrometer SOLPEX

We present an innovative soft X-ray polarimeter and spectrometer SOLPEX. The instrument is to be mounted aboard the ISS within the Russian science complex KORTES. The measurements to be made by SOLPEX are expected to be of unprecedented quality in terms of sensitivity to detect the soft-X-ray polarization of solar emission emanating from active regions and flares in particular. Simultaneous measurements of the polarization degree and the other characteristics (eg. evolution of the spectra) constitute the last, rather unexplored area of solar X-ray spectroscopy providing substantial diagnostic potential. Second important science task to be addressed are the measurements of Doppler shifts in selected X-ray spectral emission lines formed in hot flaring sources. The novel-type Dopplerometer (flat Bragg crystal drum unit) is planned to be a part of SOLPEX and will allow to measure line Doppler shifts in absolute terms with unprecedented time resolution (fraction of a second) during the impulsive flare phases. We shall present some details of the SOLPEX instrument and discuss observing sequences in a view of science objectives to be reached.