The Hard X-Ray Telescope (HXT) Onboard Yohkoh: Its Performance and Some Initial Results

Abstract

Abstract More than two hundred solar flares, including several GOES X-class events, were successfully observed with the Hard X-ray Telescope (HXT) on board Yohkoh during the initial six months of observations since 1991 October. Hard X-ray images taken simultaneously in four X-ray energy bands (14–23–33–53–93 keV), with angular and temporal resolutions of ~ 5″ and 0.5 s, respectively, have been revealing how and where hard X-rays are emitted in flaring magnetic loops, and further how and where electrons are accelerated and confined. These HXT observations are briefly reviewed from the viewpoint of the instrument capability and performance, with some new scientific results.