HEL1OS — developed by the space astronomy group of Isro’s UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru — carried out the observation during its first observation period from approximately 12am to 10pm UT, on October 29.
Isro said the recorded data was consistent with the X-ray light curves provided by US’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES).
A solar flare is a sudden brightening of the solar atmosphere, and it produces enhanced emission in all wavelengths across the electromagnetic spectrum – radio, optical, UV, soft X-rays, hard X-rays and gamma-rays.
Commissioned on October 27, HEL1OS is undergoing fine-tuning of thresholds and calibration operations. The instrument is set to monitor Sun’s high-energy X-ray activity with fast timing and high-resolution spectra. Its data enables researchers to study explosive energy release and electron acceleration during impulsive phases of solar flares.
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The impulsive phase of the solar flare is evident in the HEL1OS light curve, distinguishable from the GOES observation by its short time duration and earlier peaking time — that is, the time at which “peak”, or, “maximum” X-rays in an energy range are detected, Isro said.
“The HEL1OS light curve also shows evidence of a few impulsive events which are weak in the GOES light curve. Detailed analysis of HEL1OS data will be able to tell whether or not any interesting evidence of electron acceleration is present in these weak GOES events,” Isro added.
The science goals of HEL1OS are: Study of explosive energy release, acceleration and transport of electrons during Solar flares using fast timing measurements and high resolution spectra and quasi-periodic pulsations (QPPs) of hard X-rays during Solar flares to understand its connection with particle acceleration mechanisms.