solar PolArization and Directivity X-Ray Experiment (PADRE)

During a solar flare, magnetic energy is rapidly and violently released through a process that is still not well understood. Much of this energy causes the acceleration of charged particles to relativistic speeds as well as heating of the solar atmosphere up to∼50 MK. The details of the energy conversion mechanisms and particle propagation are not fully understood due to the limitations of past and current instrumentation. Moreover, the electron angular distribution, a prime diagnostic tool of the acceleration mechanism and transport, is poorly known.The solar PolArization and Directivity X-Ray Experiment (PADRE) is a 12U CubeSat observatory, that will observe the Sun in hard X-ray (HXRs) from low earth orbit. PADRE will investigate the accelerated electron angular distribution in solar flares with two unique and complementary approaches (1) by making spatially-integrated spectro-polarimetric x-ray measurements(∼10–100 keV) and (2) by coordinating with Solar Orbiter/STIX to make the first two point measurements of x-rays and determining their directivity. The spectro-polarimetric observation will give us unique information of the electron angular distribution. Furthermore, STIX on board Solar Orbiter will perform X-ray observations of solar flares from 0.28 AU (at perihelion) to 1.2 AU (at aphelion) and up to inclinations of∼25 degrees at heliospheric angles significantly different than the Earth. This provides a unique opportunity to make stereoscopic X-ray observations and measure the electron anisotropy of individual flares confidently for the first time.PADRE has one science objective: determine the angular distribution of accelerated electrons from standalone and joint SolO/STIX observations. This will allow the determination of the angular distribution of flare-accelerated electrons, a quantity that is currently unknown, except in a handful of ambiguous cases. This diagnostic is vital for constraining different flare particle acceleration scenarios, and falls in line with the NASA Heliophysics Research Program’s stated goal to “Discover and characterize fundamental processes that occur both within the heliosphere and throughout the universe.”

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