Investigating coronal heating from new high resolution solar observations: Hi-C (and IRIS) | Paola Testa (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory – USA)

The Hi-C (High resolution Coronal imager) sounding rocket has provided the highest resolution EUV solar coronal images ever obtained, resolving structures down to ~0.3 arcsec. The unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution of Hi-C data has revealed several new features, including highly braided coronal loops undergoing reconnection, and very rapid variability (down to ~15s) in the moss of bright hot loops. I will review some of the first results obtained from Hi-C data, focusing on the new insights they provide in coronal heating. I will also present a very brief overview of the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), which will be launched on June 26th 2013.