Proba 2 Sun Watcher using APS detectors and Image Processing (SWAP)

The Sun Watcher using APS detectors and image Processing (SWAP) is an extreme-ultraviolet telescope using new pixel sensor technology (APS), that measures the EUV solar corona in a very narrow band centered at 17.4 nm. The SWAP design is built on a similar concept as the MAGRITTE instrument suite for the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) mission that was launched in 2007. The optics have been adapted to the detector size. The SWAP PROBA-2 program is an opportunity to demonstrate and validate the optical concept of MAGRITTE, while it will also validate space remote sensing with APS detectors.

On the science outcomes, SWAP will provide solar corona images in the Fe XII line on a baselined 1-min cadence. Observations with this specific wavelength allow detecting phenomena, such as solar flares or 'EIT-waves", associated with the early phase of coronal mass ejections. Image recognition software will be developed that automatically detects these phenomena and sends out space weather warnings. Different modules of this software will run both on the ground system as well as on the onboard computer of PROBA II. The SWAP data will complement the observations provided by SOHO-EIT, and STEREO-SECCHI.

太阳观测者采用APS探测器与图像处理技术（SWAP）是一台利用新型像素传感器技术（APS）的极端紫外望远镜，它能够在以17.4纳米为中心的非常狭窄波段内测量太阳 EUV 光球层。SWAP的设计理念与NASA太阳动力学观测台（SDO）任务中于2007年发射的MAGRITTE仪器组类似。光学系统已根据探测器尺寸进行调整。SWAP PROBA-2项目旨在展示并验证MAGRITTE的光学设计概念，同时亦将验证使用APS探测器的空间遥感技术。在科学成果方面，SWAP将基于1分钟的基准时序，提供在 Fe XII 线上的太阳光球层图像。使用这一特定波长的观测能够探测与日冕物质抛射早期阶段相关的现象，如太阳耀斑或‘EIT波’。将开发图像识别软件，该软件能够自动检测这些现象并发出空间天气预报。该软件的不同模块将在地面系统以及PROBA II的机载计算机上运行。SWAP数据将补充SOHO-EIT和STEREO-SECCHI提供的观测数据。