ISRO’s Hel1OS Captures First High-Energy X-Ray Glimpse of Solar Flares
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that Hel1OS, attached to the Aditya L-1 satellite, has successfully captured the first high-energy X-ray glimpse of solar flares. The High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (Hel1OS) recorded the impulsive phase of solar flares during its initial observation period from October 29.
Solar flares are sudden brightenings of the solar atmosphere. They produce enhanced emission in various wavelengths across the electromagnetic spectrum, including radio, optical, UV, soft X-rays, hard X-rays, and gamma-rays. However, characterizing and understanding the initial impulsive emission of solar flares has always been challenging due to its time variability and multiple spectral components.
To overcome these difficulties, Hel1OS has a set of detectors specifically tuned to different energy ranges, providing high spectral and time resolution measurements. The instrument, commissioned on October 27, 2023, is currently undergoing fine-tuning and calibration operations to monitor the Sun’s high-energy X-ray activity with fast timing and high-resolution spectra.
The data collected by Hel1OS will enable researchers to study the explosive energy release and electron acceleration during the impulsive phases of solar flares. The instrument was developed by the Space Astronomy Group of the U R Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO, in Bengaluru.
Aditya-L1, the mission in which Hel1OS is onboard, is India’s first dedicated space mission for observing the Sun. It carries seven payloads to observe different wavebands of the Sun, including the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. This fully indigenous mission involves the participation of national institutions.
An ISRO scientist stated that capturing the first high-energy X-ray glimpse of solar flares indicates that the mission is progressing as expected.
