Millimeter-Wavelength Observations of Flares During the HESSI Mission

Stephen White and Mukul Kundu

Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

Prospects for observations of solar flares at millimeter wavelengths by the BIMA radiotelescope during the HESSI mission are discussed. Millimeter wavelength observations are sensitive to the most energetic electrons accelerated in solar flares, since only relativistic electrons can radiate at the high gyrosynchrotron harmonics needed to produce millimeter emission. The 10-element BIMA array can produce high-resolution snapshot images of flare emission showing both radiation from nonthermal electrons as well as post-flare loops. Observational campaigns will be requested with this telescope during the HESSI mission, particularly during the northern summer when other pressures on observing time are reduced.