Scientific objectives of solar gamma-ray observations

Abstract

Solar flare neutrons and gamma rays are produced by nuclear interactions of flare accelerated ions in the solar atmosphere. A rich variety of such gamma ray and neutron observations have been made by the Solar Maximum Mission (SSM), other satellite, balloon and ground based detectors, and they have provided a wealth of unique information on the nature of particle acceleration in flares and on the flare process itself. What we have learned from these observations is briefly reviewed, and what we can hope to learn from more sensitive new observations to be made with the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO), the Max '91 balloon program, and the Nuclear Astrophysics Explorer is outlined