Abstract: Solar flares are powered by an impulsive release of magnetic energy stored in the solar atmosphere. The release of magnetic energy is heating coronal plasma, but as much as half of the released energy goes into particle acceleration. The acceleration mechanisms that provide these efficient conversions of magnetic energy into supra-thermal particles are currently not well understood. In the past years however, significant progress has been made on the observational side; thanks in particular to hard X-ray observations by Reuven Ramaty High Energy Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI), a NASA small explorer mission. After an introduction, I will review recent observational results obtained by RHESSI. Furthermore, I will discuss future hard X-ray instrumentation with an emphasis on joint observations by the HXI instrument on board ASO-S and STIX flying on the Solar Orbiter mission.

 
Prof. S？m Krucker's main scientific interests are in problems of plasma astrophysics, especially solar and heliospheric physics, from an observational and experimental point of view.

Awards and recognition:PI of RHESSI and PI of STIX/Solar Orbiter; Member of the Steering Committee of the Swiss Space Office (2014) ; Faculty at University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (2011) ; 2010 to present: double appointment at and the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland and the Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley, USA; 2008-2010: Head of space allocation committee at the Space Sciences Laboratory; 2008: Member of the executive committee to the director of the Space Sciences Laboratory.