MAX '91 Coordination and Studies of Solar Activity on Timescales of Milliseconds to Years

MAX91是一个研究1990年代S时期太阳活动的观测计划，重点是协调从现有设施以及新的气球、火箭和地面仪器进行的观测。因此，该计划要求及早任命一名太阳物理学家担任“MAX91协调员”。这笔赠款的一个组成部分是让一名太阳物理学家担任MAX91协调员的角色。这笔赠款将通过与太阳物理界建立可靠的单向和现代双向计算机通信线路，实现MAX91的高效运行。协调员还将与太阳预报员(特别是与MAX91有关)密切合作，根据实时太阳状况优化宣传活动的科学产出。还计划进行三项研究，涵盖太阳活动在11个数量级的时间尺度上的不同方面：毫秒-秒一项新开发的三年观测计划，高速数码相机系统。该系统可以同时观测三个高时空分辨率的光学波长：通过与X射线数据的比较，有望解决加速电子在太阳耀斑中的重要飞行时间效应；这涉及到耀斑中能量释放的基本性质。对“脉冲”和“渐变”硬X射线爆发的时间和光谱特征进行几秒钟的研究：这项研究将分析超过4500个硬X射线耀斑，以量化两种主要类型耀斑行为之间的特征差异：冲动性和渐进性。在伽马射线耀斑产生率中首次发现的太阳活动表观152-158天周期的小时年研究：来自新的对过去10到120年的数据库进行分析，它的目的是要确立或否定这种“周期性”作为太阳活动的一个基本物理属性。

MAX91 is an observational program to study solar activity in the 1990's with emphasis on coordination of observations from existing facilities and also from new balloon, rocket and ground- based instrumentation. Accordingly, the program requires the early appointment of a solar physicist to act as the "MAX91 Coordinator." One component of this grant is for a solar physicist to assume the role of MAX91 Coordinator. The grant will effect efficient MAX91 operation by establishing reliable one-way, and modern two-way, computer-based lines of communications to the solar physics community. The Coordinator will also work closely with a solar forecaster (specifically associated with MAX91) to optimize scientific output of campaigns in response to real-time solar conditions. Three studies which encompass varying aspects of solar activity on timescales that vary over eleven orders of magnitude are also planned: Milliseconds - Seconds Three year observational program with a newly developed, high speed digital camera system. This system can observe simultaneously at three optical wavelengths with high temporal and spatial resolution: From comparisons with X-ray data, it is expected to resolve important time-of-flight effects of accelerated electrons in solar flares; this addresses fundamental properties of energy release in flares. Seconds - Hours Investigation of temporal and spectral signatures of "impulsive" and "gradual" hard X-ray bursts: This study will analyze over 4,500 hard X-ray flares to quantify the characteristic differences between the two principal types of flare behavior: impulsive and gradual. Hours - Years Investigation of an apparent 152-158 day periodicity in solar activity first discovered in gamma-ray flare production rates: From new analyses of databases which extend from 10 to 120 years in the past, it is intended to either establish or to discredit this "periodicity" as a fundamental physical property of solar activity.