BSS – Brazilian Solar Spectroscope

The instrument Brazilian Solar Spectroscope (BSS), in operation since 1990, is the only spectrograph in Latin America and the southern hemisphere dedicated to research in real-time solar phenomena and the daily monitoring (11-19 UT) solar activity within the band radio waves decimetre (1000-2500 MHz).

This instrument operates in conjunction with an antenna diameter of 9 m, pole mount, which is installed at the headquarters of INPE, in Sao Jose dos Campos, SP. Operates with high resolutions in frequency (3 MHz), temporal (up to 200 spectra per second) and high sensitivity (~ solar flux units), generating about 100 Mb / day. From observations of the satellite Skylab in the range of X-rays, it was found that the particle acceleration region of the “flare” solar occurs in regions of the solar atmosphere whose densities are of the order of 109 – 1010 cm-3.

Moreover, it is known that the plasma emission densities associated with that magnitude is within the range of radio waves decimetre. In this case, the observations in the decimetric waves BSS provide direct information about the regions of energy release and particle acceleration for “flares” Solar. Therefore, the detection of spectral signatures of pre-“flares” in “real” time, associated with the occurrence of “flares” and trigger CMEs, as well as its record in “real” time of the impulsive phase of the “flares” are fundamental importance to the process of predicting the occurrence and determination of the characteristics of phenomena, and consequently of its implications for the Space Weather Program.