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The Solar X-ray Imager (SXI) instrument is a broadband imager
operating in the 0.6-6.0
nm bandpass. It has a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of ~10
arc-seconds sampled with 5 arc-second pixels in a 512x512 array.
When operational, it will provide full-disk solar images at a
1-minute cadence around the clock, except for brief periods
during orbital eclipse seasons. Available combinations of
exposures and filters allow the entire dynamic range of solar
x-ray features to be covered: from coronal holes to X-class
flares. In addition, using ratio images from different filters
allows temperature and emission measure estimates to be made.
- Goodrich's Electro-Optical Systems is designing,
fabricating and testing the space qualified mirror assemblies
- Grazing incidence X-ray telescope
- Primary and secondary mirrors on single substrate
- Super-smooth (~3 Angstroms, RMS) surfaces
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To meet operational goals, flexible observing strategies are
implemented as recurring sequences of images. Sequences can be
selected or modified based on solar activity levels. The
operational goals are to:
- Locate coronal holes for geomagnetic storm
forecasts,
- Detect and locate flares for forecasts of solar
energetic particle (SEP) events related to flares,
- Monitor changes in the corona that indicate coronal
mass ejections (CMEs),
- Detect active regions beyond east limb for F10.7
forecasts, and
- Analyze active region complexity for flare
forecasts.
For more information, please visit the
SXI web site.
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