High resolution soft X-ray flare spectra recorded by Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and Aerospace Corporation Bragg crystal spectrometers flown on an orbiting spacecraft (P78-1) are combined and analyzed. The instruments were launched on t979 February 24 by the U.S. Air Force, and the data discussed in this paper cover the wavelength ranges, 1.82-1.97 Å, 3.143.24 Å, and 18.423.0 Å. The NRL experiment (SOLFLEX) covers the two short wavelength ranges (highly ionized Fe and Ca lines) and the Aerospace experiment (SOLEX) covers the t8.4-23.O Å range, which includes the Lyα O VIII line and the resonance, intercombination, and forbidden lines of O VII. We analyze the spectra of two flares which occurred on 1980 April 8 and May 9. Temporal coverage is fairly complete for both flares, including the rise and decay phases. Measurements of electron density Ne with rather high time resolution (about 1 minute) have been obtained throughout most of the lifetimes of the two flares. These measurements were obtained from the O VII lines and pertain to flare plasma at temperatures near 2 × 106 K. Peak density seems to occur slightly before the times of peak X-ray flux in the resonance lines of Fe XXV, Ca XIX, and O VII, and for both flares the peak density is about 1012 cm-3. Electron temperature Te as a function of time is determined from the Fe and Ca spectra. Peak temperature for both flares is about 18 × 106 K. Differential emission measures and volume emission measures are determined from the resonance lines of O VII, Ca XIX, and Fe XXV. The number of electrons NeΔV and the volume ΔV over which the O VII lines are formed are determined from the O VII volume emission measure Ne2ΔV and the density Ne. These quantities are determined as a function of time. The relationship of the low and high temperature regions is discussed.
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Doschek et al. (1981) studied this question.