EIT and TRACE responses to flare plasma

Aims. To understand the contribution of active region and flare plasmas to the λ195 channels of SOHO/EIT (Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Telescope) and TRACE (Transition Region and Coronal Explorer). Methods. We have analysed an M8 flare simultaneously observed by the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS), EIT, TRACE and RHESSI. We obtained synthetic spectra for the flaring region and an outer region using the differential emission measures (DEM) of emitting plasma based on CDS and RHESSI observations and the CHIANTI atomic database. We then predicted the EIT and TRACE count rates. Results. For the flaring region, both EIT and TRACE images taken through the λ195 filter are dominated by Fe XXIV (formed at about 20 MK). However, in the outer region, the emission was primarily due to the Fe XII, with substantial contributions from other lines. The average count rate for the outer region was within 25% the observed value for EIT, while for TRACE it was a factor of two higher. For the flare region, the predicted count rate was a factor of two (in case of EIT) and a factor of three (in case of TRACE) higher than the actual count rate. Conclusions. During a solar flare, both TRACE and EIT λ195 channels are found to be dominated by Fe XXIV emission. Reasonable agreement between predictions and observations is found, however some discrepancies need to be further investigated.