SoLEXS - A low energy X-ray spectrometer for solar coronal studies

Abstract

A Solar Low-energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS), a high spectral resolution (≤ 250 eV at 5.9 keV) instrument with soft X-ray energy coverage (≤ 1.5 keV), is being proposed as an additional payload on-board Aditya-1. The motivation behind this is to complement the visible emission line space solar coronagraph, the main payload on Aditya-1. The science goals in which SoLEXS data will compliment the main payload are: (i) Understanding of DC heating mechanism, (ii) Studies on the Flare-CME relations from the same platform, (iii) Independent and accurate estimates of temperature and emission measure at the flaring sites, and (iv) Coronal abundance studies and its variations during flares. Apart from these four major science goals, this instrument in principle can provide a flare trigger to the main payload and help in optimizing the on-board memory storage.