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How big are Hard X-ray Sources ---- Really?. Brian Dennis GSFC. Objectives. Determine real HXR source sizes Compare image reconstruction algorithms Establish objective procedures Analyze many flares Obtain source size distributions vs. Energy Flare intensity. Motivation. SCIENTIFIC
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How big are Hard X-ray Sources----Really? Brian Dennis GSFC
Objectives • Determine real HXR source sizes • Compare image reconstruction algorithms • Establish objective procedures • Analyze many flares • Obtain source size distributions vs. • Energy • Flare intensity Brian Dennis GSFC
Motivation SCIENTIFIC • Thermal SXR source area volume volume + EM density density + T + filling factor thermal energy • HXR footpoint area + spectrum electron flux density • Footpoint asymmetry magnetic field asymmetry INSTRUMENTAL • Refine RHESSI imaging capabilities • Establish requirements for future HXR imagers: • STIX on Solar Orbiter • XRI on Solar Sentinels Brian Dennis GSFC
METHOD FOR DETERMINING SIZES, POSITIONS & FLUXES Thanks to Ed Schmahl Don't use CLEAN OR MEM or PIXON Use FORWARD FIT with VISIBILITIES REASONS: Old algorithms don't weight size sensitivity properly Better to find the closest fit to the calibrated visibilities of a specific model (e.g. Gaussians + albedo) Select energy and time range with good S/N Compute visibility using SSW tools Run vis_fwdfit with 8-10 parameters Brian Dennis GSFC RHESSI WORKSHOP, MEUDON, 2006 APRIL 5-8
WHAT DOES VIS_FWDFIT DO? Visibility amplitudes (crosses) are fit by a model black curve) Residuals (squares) Brian Dennis GSFC RHESSI WORKSHOP, MEUDON, 2006 APRIL 5-8
RESULTS (1) FWHM= 4.1,3.6 FLUX= 21.4, 20.9 Brian Dennis GSFC RHESSI WORKSHOP, MEUDON, 2006 APRIL 5-8
Source Sizes vs. EnergyThanks to Rick Pernakhttp://hesperia.gsfc.nasa.gov/~pernak/ Brian Dennis GSFC
Image ComparisonsPernak et al. (2006) poster Brian Dennis GSFC
MEM_NJIT CLEAN (d4 – 8) PIXON 30 October 200416:23:48 to 16:24:48 UT CLEAN images Natural weighting Detectors 1 - 9 TF = 1 D3 - 9 TF = 2 Brian Dennis GSFC
30 Oct. 2004Forward-Fitwith stackerThanks to Richard Schwartz Source sigmas: 1.1 & 1.0 arcsec. Brian Dennis GSFC
30 October 200416:23:48 to 16:24:48 UT MEM_NJIT VIS_FF Brian Dennis GSFC
VIS_FF30 October 200416:23:48 to 16:24:48 UT RChisq = 15 Brian Dennis GSFC
Brian Dennis GSFC
Brian Dennis GSFC
CLEAN Image, TF = 1 6 - 12 & 30 – 40 keVNatural weightingTF = 2 CLEAN Images Brian Dennis GSFC
30 – 40 keVUniform weightingTF = 23x3 boxcar smoothed CLEAN & Pixon Images Pixon ImageColor stretched Brian Dennis GSFC
Clean & Pixon Images Brian Dennis GSFC
Pixon Images Unsmoothed Boxcar smoothed3x3 pixels Brian Dennis GSFC
VIS_FF 2 circular sources Brian Dennis GSFC
Peak roll angles for grid 4 30” 2xFWHM = 24” Brian Dennis GSFC
Ellipse - FWHM = 14” eccentricity = 0.97 Circle – FWHM = 6.8” Brian Dennis GSFC
Ellipse – FWHM = 15” eccentricity = 0.75, PA = 110Circle – FWHM = 4.3” Brian Dennis GSFC
Ellipse – FWHM = 5.6”, eccentricity 0.75, PA = 110Circle – FWHM = 4.5” Brian Dennis GSFC
Conclusions • Always make CLEAN images first • Detectors 1 – 9 above ~25 keV • Natural weighting, test factor = 1, 2 or ∞ • Uniform weighting for compact sources • Use “media mode” - don’t add residuals • Use Pixon for extended sources • Boxcar smooth image • Use VIS_FF • Only if one or two clear compact sources • Use elliptical sources • Check chi-squared values for each detector • Include albedo • Investigate poor fits to detector 1 & 2 visibilities Brian Dennis GSFC