Terahertz photometer to observe solar flares in continuum

Solar observations at sub-THz frequencies detected a new flare spectral component peaking in the THz range, simultaneously with the well known microwaves component, bringing challenging constraints for interpretation. Higher THz frequencies observations are needed to understand the nature of the mechanisms occurring in flares. A THz photometer system was developed to observe outside the terrestrial atmosphere on stratospheric balloons or satellites, or at exceptionally transparent ground stations. The telescope was designed to observe the whole solar disk detecting small relative changes in input temperature caused by flares at localized positions. A Golay cell detector is preceded by low-pass filters to suppress visible and near IR radiation, a band-pass filter, and a chopper. A prototype was assembled to demonstrate the new concept and the system performance. It can detect temperature variations smaller than 1 K for data sampled at a rate of 10/second, smoothed for intervals larger than 4 seconds. For a 76 mm aperture, this corresponds to small solar burst intensities at THz frequencies. A system with 3 and 7 THz photometers is being built for solar flare observations on board of stratospheric balloon missions.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, accepted by Journal of Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves, 9 December 201

SMESE: A SMall Explorer for Solar Eruptions

International audienceThe SMall Explorer for Solar Eruptions (SMESE) mission is a microsatellite proposed by France and China. The payload of SMESE consists of three packages: LYOT (a Lyman alpha imager and a Lyman alpha coronagraph), DESIR (an Infra-Red Telescope working at 35-80 and 100-250 mum), and HEBS (a High-Energy Burst Spectrometer working in X- and gamma-rays). The status of research on flares and coronal mass ejections is briefly reviewed in the context of on-going missions such as SOHO, TRACE and RHESSI. The scientific objectives and the profile of the mission are described. With a launch around 2012-2013, SMESE will provide a unique tool for detecting and understanding eruptions (flares and coronal mass ejections) close to the maximum phase of activity

SMESE (SMall Explorer for Solar Eruptions): A microsatellite mission with combined solar payload

International audienceThe SMESE (SMall Explorer for Solar Eruptions) mission is a microsatellite proposed by France and China. The payload of SMESE consists of three packages: LYOT (a Lyman alpha imager and a Lyman alpha coronagraph), DESIR (an Infra-red Telescope working at 35 80 and 100 250 mum), and HEBS (a High Energy Burst Spectrometer working in X- and gamma-rays). The scientific objectives of the mission are shortly presented. We describe the three instrumental packages and the profile of the mission which accommodates them. With a launch around 2012 2013, the SMESE microsatellite mission will provide a unique tool for detecting and understanding eruptions (flares and coronal mass ejections). Observations should start around solar maximum, and continue in the declining phase of activity, at a time when the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) should still be operating