2006/09/28 by E. Suarez-Garcia, W. Hajdas, C. Wigger +6 · 51 citations
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Compton scattering #Gamma ray #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #High energy #Linear polarization #Optics #Particle physics #Photon #Physics #Polarimeter #Polarimetry #Polarization (electrochemistry) #Satellite #Scattering #Solar Radiation and Photovoltaics #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #Solar flare #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s11207-006-0268-1
published in Solar Physics 239(1-2), 149-172 (Springer Science+Business Media) · 26 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication by Solar Physics
arxiv created 2006/09/28 · openalex publication_date 2006/11/10 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The degree of linear polarization in solar flares has not yet been precisely determined despite multiple attempts to measure it with different missions. The high energy range in particular has very rarely been explored, due to its greater instrumental difficulties. We approached the subject using the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) satellite to study 6 X-class and 1 M-class flares in the energy range between 100 keV and 350 keV. Using RHESSI as a polarimeter requires the application of strict cuts to the event list in order to extract those photons that are Compton scattered between two detectors. Our measurements show polarization values between 2% and 54%, with errors ranging from 10% to 26% in 1 sigma level. In view of the large uncertainties in both the magnitude and direction of the polarization vector, the results can only reject source models with extreme properties.