Acceleration of Relativistic Protons During the 20 January 2005 Flare and CME

The origin of relativistic solar protons during large flare/CME events has not been uniquely identified so far. We perform a detailed comparative analysis of the time profiles of relativistic protons detected by the worldwide network of neutron monitors at Earth with electromagnetic signatures of particle acceleration in the solar corona during the large particle event of 20 January 2005. The intensity – time profile of the relativistic protons derived from the neutron monitor data indicates two successive peaks. We show that microwave, hard X-ray, and γ-ray emissions display several episodes of particle acceleration within the impulsive flare phase. The first relativistic protons detected at Earth are accelerated together with relativistic electrons and with protons that produce pion-decay γ rays during the second episode. The second peak in the relativistic proton profile at Earth is accompanied by new signatures of particle acceleration in the corona within ≈1R _⊙ above the photosphere, revealed by hard X-ray and microwave emissions of low intensity and by the renewed radio emission of electron beams and of a coronal shock wave. We discuss the observations in terms of different scenarios of particle acceleration in the corona.     

Non-thermal processes in large solar flares

We analyze particle acceleration processes in large solar flares, using observations of the August, 1972, series of large events. The energetic particle populations are estimated from the hard X-ray and γ-ray emission, and from direct interplanetary particle observations. The collisional energy losses of these particles are computed as a function of height, assuming that the particles are accelerated high in the solar atmosphere and then precipitate down into denser layers. We compare the computed energy input with the flare energy output in radiation, heating, and mass ejection, and find for large proton event flares that:

1. The ～10–10² keV electrons accelerated during the flash phase constitute the bulk of the total flare energy.
2. The flare can be divided into two regions depending on whether the electron energy input goes into radiation or explosive heating. The computed energy input to the radiative quasi-equilibrium region agrees with the observed flare energy output in optical, UV, and EUV radiation.
3. The electron energy input to the explosive heating region can produce evaporation of the upper chromosphere needed to form the soft X-ray flare plasma.
4. Very intense energetic electron fluxes can provide the energy and mass for interplanetary shock wave by heating the atmospheric gas to energies sufficient to escape the solar gravitational and magnetic fields. The threshold for shock formation appears to be ～10³¹ ergs total energy in >20 keV electrons, and all of the shock energy can be supplied by electrons if their spectrum extends down to 5–10 keV.
5. High energy protons are accelerated later than the 10–10² keV electrons and most of them escape to the interplanetary medium. The energetic protons are not a significant contributor to the energization of flare phenomena. The observations are consistent with shock-wave acceleration of the protons and other nuclei, and also of electrons to relativistic energies.
6. The flare white-light continuum emission is consistent with a model of free-bound transitions in a plasma with strong non-thermal ionization produced in the lower solar chromosphere by energetic electrons. The white-light continuum is inconsistent with models of photospheric heating by the energetic particles. A threshold energy of ～5×10³⁰ ergs in >20 keV electrons is required for detectable white-light emission.

The highly efficient electron energization required in these flares suggests that the flare mechanism consists of rapid dissipation of chromospheric and coronal field-aligned or sheet currents, due to the onset of current-driven Buneman anomalous resistivity. Large proton flares then result when the energy input from accelerated electrons is sufficient to form a shock wave.     

Energies of Electrons Accelerated in Turbulent Reconnecting Current Sheets in Solar Flares

Yohkoh observations strongly suggest that electron acceleration in solar flares occurs in magnetic reconnection regions in the corona above the soft X-ray flare loops. Unfortunately, models for particle acceleration in reconnecting current sheets predict electron energy gains in terms of the reconnection electric field and the thickness of the sheet, both of which are extremely difficult to measure. It can be shown, however, that application of Ohm's law in a turbulent current sheet, combined with energy and Maxwell's equations, leads to a formula for the electron energy gain in terms of the flare power output, the magnetic field strength, the plasma density and temperature in the sheet, and its area. Typical flare parameters correspond to electron energies between a few tens of keV and a few MeV. The calculation supports the viewpoint that electrons that generate the continuum gamma-ray and hard X-ray emissions in impulsive solar flares are accelerated in a large-scale turbulent current sheet above the soft X-ray flare loops.     

Proton acceleration in flares and magnetohydrodynamic solar activity

The possibility of accelerated protons in solar flares having a sharp change in their spectral index is discussed. The analysis is based on the Tsytovich (1982, 1984, 1987a, b, c) acceleration model by MHD turbulence, which is shown to have different resonant conditions for non-relativistic and relativistic particles. The different resonant condition is shown to result in a sharp change in the accelerated proton spectral index, even in the absence of any peculiarity in the spectra of the MHD turbulence. Time scales for accelerated protons to relativistic energies are also derived, and shown to be consistent with observations. We also show that the threshold energy for electron acceleration by low frequency MHD turbulence is much greater than for proton acceleration. The turbulence therefore preferentially accelerates protons.     

On proton and electron acceleration by shock waves during large solar flares

The data on optical, X-ray and gamma emission from proton flares, as well as direct observations of flare-associated phenomena, show energetic proton acceleration in the corona rather than in the flare region. In the present paper, the acceleration of protons and accompanying relativistic electrons is accounted for by a shock wave arising during the development of a large flare. We deal with a regular acceleration mechanism due to multiple reflection of resonance protons and fast electrons from a collisionless shock wave front which serves as a moving mirror. The height of the most effective acceleration in the solar corona is determined. The accelerated particle energy and density are estimated. It is shown in particular that a transverse collisionless shock wave may produce the required flux of protons with energy of 10 MeV and of relativistic electrons of 1–10 MeV.The proposed scheme may also serve as an injection mechanism when the protons are accelerated up to relativistic energies by other methods.     

The continuous emission of low energy cosmic rays during solar flares

It has been recently suggested by several investigators that the accelerated charged particles provide the energy of the optical flare by the ionization loss process. We have examined this mechanism assuming different forms of the spectrum of the accelerated protons at lower chromosphere. The flux and the energy spectrum of protons of energy 0.1–100 MeV have been calculated at successive heights, from 10³ to 40 × 10³ km from the solar surface taking into account the ionization loss, pitch angle distribution and density distribution of the neutral and ionized hydrogen in the chromosphere and lower corona. Hence the energy spectrum of the protons escaping from the Sun and the amount of energy dissipated in the solar chromosphere are computed. Comparing the calculated results with the observational data on the solar event of September 28, 1961 it is found that the ionization loss of the accelerated protons and heavier nuclei in the solar atmosphere may supply a significant part of the energy of the optical flare assuming that the fraction, f, of magnetic tubes of force extending out of the solar atmosphere is about 1 %. The accelerated proton spectrum in the form of power law in kinetic energy seems to be the most appropriate form. In the event of September 28, 1961 best estimates are made on this basis of the total number and the energy spectrum of protons at injection, the flux and energy spectrum of escaping protons and the energy dissipated in the solar atmosphere by the accelerated ions. It is found that the possible range of variation of the height of injection level hardly affects the total energy dissipated. The high variability of the intensity of protons released by the Sun is interpreted in terms of the variations of the parameter, f, determined by the configurations of the magnetic field lines.Preliminary results were presented at the International Symposium on Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Leningrad, May, 1970.Presently at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A., on leave from T.I.F.R., Bombay.     

Electromagnetic and corpuscular emission from the solar flare of 1991 June 15: Continuous acceleraton of relativistic particles

Data on X-,γ-ray, optical and radio emission from the 1991 June 15 solar flare are considered. We have calculated the spectrum of protons that producesγ-rays during the gradual phase of the flare. The primary proton spectrum can be described as a Bessel-function-type up to 0.8 GeV and a power law with the spectral index ≈3 from 0.8 up to 10 GeV or above. We have also analyzed data on energetic particles near the Earth. Their spectrum differed from that of primary protons producingγ-ray line emission. In the gradual phase of the flare additional pulses of energy release occurred and the time profiles of cm-radio emission andγ-rays in the 0.8–10 MeV energy band and above 50 MeV coincided. A continuous and simultaneous stochastic acceleration of the protons and relativistic electrons at the gradual phase of the flare is considered as a natural explanation of the data.     

Prompt particle acceleration around moving X-point magnetic field during impulsive phase of solar flares

We present a model for high-energy solar flares to explain prompt proton and electron acceleration, which occurs around moving X-point magnetic fields during the implosion phase of the current sheet. We derive the electromagnetic fields during the strong implosion of the current sheet, which is driven by the converging flow toward the center of the magnetic arcade. We investigated a test particle motion in the strong electromagnetic fields derived from the MHD equations. It is shown that both protons and electrons can be promptly (within 1 s) accelerated to 70 and 200 MeV, respectively. This acceleration mechanism can be applicable for the impulsive phase of the gradual gamma-ray and proton flares (gradual GR/P flare), which have been called two-ribbon flares.     

Electrons > 40 ke V and protons > 500 ke V of solar origin

Following many solar flares, electrons with kinetic energy > 40 keV appear in interplanetary space. There are two classes of such electrons: prompt electrons which arrive within an hour of the flare and delayed electrons which arrive about a day following the flare. The promptly arriving electrons are found to be of two types: Simple (S) events are associated with solar flares which occur in the absence of large area Type I radio noise storm and the complex (C) events resulting from flares beneath these large radio noise regions. The propagation of energetic solar flare electrons to the earth is best described in terms of cones of propagation. In the S-events the cones have about 30° opening angle whereas in the C-type events the cones open to about 90° full angle. Outside the boundaries of these cones the electron flux is much reduced. Within the cones there is a net streaming of the electrons away from the sun. Solar flare electron fluxes do not show filamentary structure even at times when protons from the same flare do. This suggests that the electrons are injected into the interplanetary field from regions distinct from the proton injection region. The delayed solar electron events are accompanied by large fluxes of protons > 500 keV. These events are sometimes closely related to a sudden commencement.     

Investigation of the possible source for the solar energetic particle event on 2017 September 10

According to the solar proton data observed by Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites(GOES), ground-based neutron monitors on Earth and near-relativistic electron data measured by the ACE spacecraft, the onset times of protons with different energies and near-relativistic electrons have been estimated and compared with the time of solar soft and hard X-ray and radio burst data.The results show that first arriving relativistic and non-relativistic protons and electrons may have been accelerated by the concurrent flare. The results also suggest that release times of protons with different energies may be different, and the protons with lower energy may have been released earlier than those with higher energy. Some protons accelerated by concurrent flares may be further accelerated by the shock driven by the associated CME.     

Multispacecraft observations of the east-west asymmetry of solar Energetic Storm Particle events

Multispacecraft observations of energetic protons (E _p 500 keV) were obtained by the APL/JHU instruments on board the IMP-7 and 8 spacecraft and the Voyager-1 and 2 deep space probes, in order to study the generation of solar flare Energetic Storm Particle (ESP) events at widely separated locations on the same shock front. These locations are presumably characterized, on the average, by different interplanetary magnetic field-shock front configurations, i.e. quasi-perpendicular (quasi-parallel) shocks for eastern (western) solar flare sites. The multispacecraft energetic proton observations show that substantial differences in the ESP proton intensity enhancements (defined as the ratio of intensity increases near the shock over the ambient solar proton population) are detected at these energies for locations on the shock front with wide heliolongitude separations. In particular, large ESP proton intensity enhancements are detected at locations on the shock front for which the solar flare site generating the shock is to the east of the spacecraft meridian, whereas only weak ESP events are observed at locations on the same shock for which the flare site is to the west of the spacecraft meridian. The results indicate that acceleration of ESP protons to E _p 500 keV takes place exclusively at the quasi-perpendicular shock front domain, consistent with the shock drift acceleration mechanism (Armstrong et al., 1977).     

Multiple acceleration of protons on the Sun and their free propagation to the Earth on January 20, 2005

We analyze the observations of solar protons with energies >80 MeV near the Earth and the January 20, 2005, solar flare in various ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. Within approximately the first 30 min after their escape into interplanetary space, the solar protons with energies above 80 MeV propagated without scattering to the Earth and their time profiles were determined only by the time profile of the source on the Sun and its energy spectrum. The 80–165 MeV proton injection function was nonzero beginning at 06:43:80 UT and can be represented as the product of the temporal part, the ACS (Anticoincidence System) SPI (Spectrometer on INTEGRAL) count rate, and the energy part, a power-law proton spectrum ～E ^?4.7±0.1. Protons with energies above 165 MeV and relativistic electrons were injected, respectively, 4 and 9 min later than this time. The close correlation between high-energy solar electromagnetic emission and solar proton fluxes near the Earth is evidence for prolonged and multiple proton acceleration in solar flares. The formation of a posteruptive loop system was most likely accompanied by successive energy releases and acceleration of charged particles with various energies. Our results are in conflict with the ideas of cosmic-ray acceleration in gradual solar particle events at the shock wave driven by a coronal mass ejection.     

Solar wind heating beyond 1 AU

The effect of an interplanetary atomic hydrogen gas on solar wind proton, electron and α-particle temperatures beyond 1 AU is considered. It is shown that the proton temperature (and probably also the α-particle temperature) reaches a minimum between 2 AU and 4 AU, depending on values chosen for solar wind and interstellar gas parameters. Heating of the electron gas depends primarily on the thermal coupling of the protons and electrons. For strong coupling (whenT _p ≳T _e ), the electron temperature reaches a minimum between 4 AU and 8 AU, but for weak coupling (Coulomb collisions only), the electron temperature continues to decrease throughout the inner solar system. A spacecraft travelling to Jupiter should be able to observe the heating effect of the solar wind-interplanetary hydrogen interaction, and from such observations it may be possible of infer some properties of the interstellar neutral gas. Currently a National Research Council Resident Research Associate.     

Is there a limit on solar flare proton fluxes?

We explore the possibility that solar flare proton fluxes are limited in magnitude by saturation effects inherent to the acceleration mechanism. If cyclotron damping of Alfvén waves acts to accelerate protons, the criterion that the damping time is comparable to the acceleration time provides a fast particle number density at which protons load the wave spectrum. The limiting flux J ^*at 1 AU is obtained by a volume integration over the acceleration region and redistribution into an interplanetary emission cone. A simplified explosion model permits a delineation between volume and surface acceleration mechanisms in terms of a temporal parameter, the effective duration of acceleration. We conclude that J ^*may be a realistic concept, but that further investigation is warranted to sharpen the criterion.     

On the correlation between the solar gamma–ray line emission,radio bursts and proton fluxes in the interplanetary space

It is shown that the correlation takes place between the 4–7 MeV gamma–ray line flare fluence F_4–7 and the intensity of the > 10 MeV proton flux in the interplanetary space as well as between F_4–7 and the peak flux density of microwave bursts. Besides, the energy spectral index of protons displays the definite dependence from parameters of the radio burst frequency spectrum. These testify that: a) there is a close physical association between the acceleration of electrons and protons in flares; b) protons, giving gamma–ray lines, and ones, registered in the interplanetary space, belong to the same population.     

An Extreme Solar Event of 20 January 2005: Properties of the Flare and the Origin of Energetic Particles

The famous extreme solar and particle event of 20 January 2005 is analyzed from two perspectives. Firstly, using multi-spectral data, we study temporal, spectral, and spatial features of the main phase of the flare, when the strongest emissions from microwaves up to 200 MeV gamma-rays were observed. Secondly, we relate our results to a long-standing controversy on the origin of solar energetic particles (SEP) arriving at Earth, i.e., acceleration in flares, or shocks ahead of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Our analysis shows that all electromagnetic emissions from microwaves up to 2.22 MeV line gamma-rays during the main flare phase originated within a compact structure located just above sunspot umbrae. In particular, a huge (≈ 10⁵ sfu) radio burst with a high frequency maximum at 30 GHz was observed, indicating the presence of a large number of energetic electrons in very strong magnetic fields. Thus, protons and electrons responsible for various flare emissions during its main phase were accelerated within the magnetic field of the active region. The leading, impulsive parts of the ground-level enhancement (GLE), and highest-energy gamma-rays identified with π ⁰-decay emission, are similar and closely correspond in time. The origin of the π ⁰-decay gamma-rays is argued to be the same as that of lower-energy emissions, although this is not proven. On the other hand, we estimate the sky-plane speed of the CME to be 2 000 – 2 600 km s⁻¹, i.e., high, but of the same order as preceding non-GLE-related CMEs from the same active region. Hence, the flare itself rather than the CME appears to determine the extreme nature of this event. We therefore conclude that the acceleration, at least, to sub-relativistic energies, of electrons and protons, responsible for both the major flare emissions and the leading spike of SEP/GLE by 07 UT, are likely to have occurred nearly simultaneously within the flare region. However, our analysis does not rule out a probable contribution from particles accelerated in the CME-driven shock for the leading GLE spike, which seemed to dominate at later stages of the SEP event. S.N. Kuznetsov deceased 17 May 2007.     

The emission and propagation of ∼ 40keV solar flare electrons

Observations of prompt 40 keV solar flare electron events by the IMP series of satellites in the period August, 1966 to December, 1967 are tabulated along with prompt energetic solar proton events in the period 1964–1967. The interrelationship of the various types of energetic particle emission by the sun, including relativistic energy electrons reported by Cline and McDonald (1968) are investigated. Relativistic energy electron emission is found to occur only during proton events. The solar optical, radio and X-ray emission associated with these various energetic particle emissions as well as the propagation characteristics of each particle species are examined in order to study the particle acceleration and emission mechanisms in a solar flare. Evidence is presented for two separate particle acceleration and/or emission mechanisms, one of which produces 40 keV electrons and the other of which produces solar proton and possibly relativistic energy electrons. It is found that solar flares can be divided into three categories depending on their energetic particle emission: (1) small flares with no accompanying energetic phenomena either in particles, radio or X-ray emission; (2) small flares which produce low energy electrons and which are accompanied by type III and microwave radio bursts and energetic ( 20 keV) X-ray bursts; and (3) major solar flare eruptions characterized by energetic solar proton production and type II and IV radio bursts and accompanied by intense microwave and X-ray emission and relativistic energy electrons.     

Solar Plasma Density and Spectrum of Accelerated Particles Derived From the 2.223-Mev Line of a Solar Flare

The time profile of the neutron capture line of 2.223 MeV for the flare of 16 December 1988 (its third peak) is analyzed. The enhancements of plasma density in the deep photospheric layers of the Sun under the flare region (an effect of density enhancement) have been deduced by the SINP calculation code. These enhancements are studied based on several modified models of the lower chromosphere, photosphere, and convection zone. Additionally, the case has been examined when the neutron source is placed at the top of the photosphere. The energy spectrum of accelerated particles (protons) is shown to evolve with time. Assuming a stochastic mechanism of acceleration and a Bessel function for the spectrum, we find the spectral index α T to increase from 0.005 to 0.1 during the decay phase of the burst; i.e., the proton spectrum becomes harder. Density enhancements found in the flare of 16 December 1988 are consistent with our previous results on the density enhancement effects deduced for two other flares, 6 November 1997 and 22 March 1991. It is suggested that density enhancements in the deep layers of the photosphere may be rather common features of powerful solar flares. B.M. Kuzhevskij is deseased.     

Proton activity of the Sun in current solar cycle 24

We present a study of seven large solar proton events in the current solar cycle 24(from 2009 January up to the current date). They were recorded by the GOES spacecraft with the highest proton fluxes being over 200 pfu for energies 10 Me V. In situ particle measurements show that:(1) The profiles of the proton fluxes are highly dependent on the locations of their solar sources, namely flares or coronal mass ejections(CMEs), which confirms the "heliolongitude rules" associated with solar energetic particle fluxes;(2) The solar particle release(SPR) times fall in the decay phase of the flare emission, and are in accordance with the times when the CMEs travel to an average height of 7.9 solar radii; and(3) The time differences between the SPR and the flare peak are also dependent on the locations of the solar active regions. The results tend to support the scenario of proton acceleration by the CME-driven shock,even though there exists a possibility of particle acceleration at the flare site, with subsequent perpendicular diffusion of accelerated particles in the interplanetary magnetic field. We derive the integral time-of-maximum spectra of solar protons in two forms: a single power-law distribution and a power law roll-over with an exponential tail. It is found that the unique ground level enhancement that occurred in the event on 2012 May 17 displays the hardest spectrum and the largest roll-over energy which may explain why this event could extend to relativistic energies.     

Solar Impulsive Hard X-Ray Emission and Two-Stage Electron Acceleration

Heating and acceleration of electrons in solar impulsive hard X-ray (HXR) flares are studied according to the two-stage acceleration model developed by Zhang for solar 3He-rich events. It is shown that electrostatic H-cyclotron waves can be excited at a parallel phase velocity less than about the electron thermal velocity and thus can significantly heat the electrons (up to 40 MK) through Landau resonance. The preheated electrons with velocities above a threshold are further accelerated to high energies in the flare-acceleration process. The flare-produced electron spectrum is obtained and shown to be thermal at low energies and power law at high energies. In the non-thermal energy range, the spectrum can be double power law if the spectral power index is energy dependent or related. The electron energy spectrum obtained by this study agrees quantitatively with the result derived from the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) HXR observations in the flare of 2002 July 23. The total flux and energy flux of electrons accelerated in the solar flare also agree with the measurements.