140 likes | 141 Views
IMAGING SPECTROSCOPY WITH RHESSI. Gordon Emslie University of Alabama in Huntsville. Why Imaging Spectroscopy?. Examine spectral changes from point to point within source Determine empirically the physical processes affecting the bremsstrahlung-producing electrons
E N D
IMAGING SPECTROSCOPY WITH RHESSI Gordon Emslie University of Alabama in Huntsville
Why Imaging Spectroscopy? • Examine spectral changes from point to point within source • Determine empirically the physical processes affecting the bremsstrahlung-producing electrons • Illustration – April 21, 2002 event
Light Curve Rise Peak Fall
Photon Spectrum (90-second overall) Power-law index 3.5 (30 – 70 keV)
20-30 keV images Overall (90 s) Fall (30s) Peak (30 s) Rise (30 s)
30-40 keV images Overall (90 s) Fall (30 s) Rise (30 s) Peak (30 s)
40-50 keV images Overall (90 s) Rise (30 s) Peak (30 s) Fall (30 s)
20-50 keV Contour Maps (rescaled – 2” pixels) 1 Fall (30 s) Rise (30 s) Peak (30 s) 1 1 2
Spectra at each footpoint Scaled =3.5 power-law • = 1 = 2 Rise (30 s) Fall (30 s) Peak (30 s)
Conclusions • There are significant spatial (and temporal) variations in the hard X-ray spectrum throughout the source • Analysis of these variations (especially with detectors 1 and 2 operating) will reveal the form of the physical processes affecting the bremsstrahlung-producing electrons
Acknowledgements • The RHESSI team • Kim Tolbert and Richard Schwartz