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

MAX91是一个研究20世纪90年代太阳活动的观测项目，重点是协调现有设施以及新的气球、火箭和地面仪器的观测。因此，该计划要求尽早任命一名太阳物理学家作为“MAX91协调员”。这笔拨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。这笔拨款将通过建立可靠的单向、现代双向、基于计算机的与太阳物理界的通信线路来有效地运行MAX91。协调员还将与太阳预报员（特别是与MAX91相关的）密切合作，以优化活动的科学产出，以响应实时太阳条件。还计划进行三项研究，其中包括太阳活动在11个数量级以上的时间尺度上的不同方面：毫秒-秒用新开发的高速数码相机系统进行为期三年的观测计划。该系统可以在三个光学波长同时观测，具有很高的时空分辨率：通过与x射线数据的比较，有望解决太阳耀斑中加速电子的重要飞行时间效应；这解决了耀斑能量释放的基本特性。“脉冲”和“渐进”硬x射线爆发的时间和光谱特征研究：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的耀斑行为之间的特征差异：脉冲和渐进。对在伽马射线耀斑产生率中首次发现的太阳活动明显的152-158天周期的研究：根据对过去10年至120年的数据库的新分析，它的目的是建立或质疑这种“周期性”是太阳活动的基本物理特性。

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.