Million Degree Plasmas in Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Astrophysics

TL;DR

This paper discusses the significance of million degree plasmas in various astrophysical contexts, emphasizing their EUV emissions which provide unique diagnostic information and opportunities for new discoveries.

Contribution

It highlights the importance of EUV observations of hot plasmas and the potential for advancements with mature instrument technology.

Findings

Million degree plasmas are common in the universe.

EUV emissions from these plasmas contain unique diagnostic spectral features.

Advances in instrument technology enable new astrophysical discoveries.

Abstract

Million degree plasmas are ubiquitous in the Universe, and examples include the atmospheres of white dwarfs; accretion phenomena in young stars, cataclysmic variables and active galactic nuclei; the coronae of stars; and the interstellar medium of our own galaxy and of others. The bulk of radiation from million degree plasmas is emitted at extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths, which includes critical spectral features containing diagnostic information often not available at other wavelengths. With underpinning by a mature instrument technology, there is great opportunity here for exciting discoveries.