2018/11/15 by K. D. Kuntz
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Emission spectrum #Scientific Research and Discoveries #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #Solar atmosphere #Solar physics #Solar wind #Thermal emission #Work (physics) #astro-ph.EP #astro-ph.HE
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s00159-018-0114-0
Invited review for The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review, 71 pages, 27 figures
arxiv created 2018/11/15 · openalex created_date 2018/11/29 · openalex publication_date 2018/12/04 · arxiv updated 2018/12/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Solar Wind Charge-Exchange (SWCX) emission is present in every X-ray observation of an astrophysical object. The emission is problematic when one cannot remove the foreground by the simultaneous measurement of a nearby field. SWCX emission is a serious impediment to the study of the diffuse hot ISM, including the Galactic halo, as its contribution to diagnostic emission lines is temporally variable. Modeling the SWCX emission, in order to remove it from our observations, has proven to be more difficult than originally anticipated. This work reviews our current understanding of SWCX emission, with special attention to all of the components required for future modeling tools. Since, in the absence of such a tool, observing programs can still be constructed to minimize the effect of SWCX, mitigation strategies are discussed. Although some aspects of SWCX will be very difficult to characterize, progress continues on many fronts.