Particle Acceleration and Propagation in Strong Flares without Major Solar Energetic Particle Events

Solar energetic particles (SEPs) detected in space are statistically associated with flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). But it is not clear how these processes actually contribute to the acceleration and transport of the particles. The present work addresses the question why flares accompanied by intense soft X-ray bursts may not produce SEPs detected by observations with the GOES spacecraft. We consider all X-class X-ray bursts between 1996 and 2006 from the western solar hemisphere. 21 out of 69 have no signature in GOES proton intensities above 10 MeV, despite being significant accelerators of electrons, as shown by their radio emission at cm wavelengths. The majority (11/20) has no type III radio bursts from electron beams escaping towards interplanetary space during the impulsive flare phase. Together with other radio properties, this indicates that the electrons accelerated during the impulsive flare phase remain confined in the low corona. This occurs in flares with and without a CME. Although GOES saw no protons above 10 MeV at geosynchronous orbit, energetic particles were detected in some (4/11) confined events at Lagrangian point L1 aboard ACE or SoHO. These events have, besides the confined microwave emission, dm-m wave type II and type IV bursts indicating an independent accelerator in the corona. Three of them are accompanied by CMEs. We conclude that the principal reason why major solar flares in the western hemisphere are not associated with SEPs is the confinement of particles accelerated in the impulsive phase. A coronal shock wave or the restructuring of the magnetically stressed corona, indicated by the type II and IV bursts, can explain the detection of SEPs when flare-accelerated particles do not reach open magnetic field lines. But the mere presence of these radio signatures, especially of a metric type II burst, is not a sufficient condition for a major SEP event.     

Post-Impulsive-Phase Acceleration in a Wide Range of Solar Longitudes

We have analyzed five solar energetic particle (SEP) events observed aboard the SOHO spacecraft during 1996–1997. All events were associated with impulsive soft X-ray flares, Type II radio bursts and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Most attention is concentrated on the SEP acceleration during the first 100 minutes after the flare impulsive phase, post-impulsive-phase acceleration, being observed in eruptions centered at different solar longitudes. As a representative pattern of a (nearly) well-connected event, we consider the west flare and CME of 9 July 1996 (S10 W30). Similarities and dissimilarities of the post-impulsive-phase acceleration at large heliocentric-angle distance from the eruption center are illustrated with the 24 September 1997 event (S31 E19). We conclude that the proton acceleration at intermediate scales, between flare acceleration and interplanetary CME-driven shock acceleration, significantly contributes to the production of ≳10 MeV protons. This post-impulsive-phase acceleration seems to be caused by the CME lift-off.     

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.     

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.     

Investigation on spectral behavior of Solar transients and their interrelationship

We probe the spectral hardening of solar flares emission in view of associated solar proton events (SEPs) at earth and coronal mass ejection (CME) acceleration as a consequence. In this investigation we undertake 60 SEPs of the Solar Cycle 23 along with associated Solar Flares and CMEs. We employ the X-ray emission in Solar flares observed by Reuven Ramaty Higly Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) in order to estimate flare plasma parameters. Further, we employ the observations from Geo-stationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO), for SEPs and CMEs parameter estimation respectively. We report a good association of soft-hard-harder (SHH) spectral behavior of Flares with occurrence of Solar Proton Events for 16 Events (observed by RHESSI associated with protons). In addition, we have found a good correlation (R=0.71) in SEPs spectral hardening and CME velocity. We conclude that the Protons as well as CMEs gets accelerated at the Flare site and travel all the way in interplanetary space and then by re-acceleration in interplanetary space CMEs produce Geomagnetic Storms in geospace. This seems to be a statistically significant mechanism of the SEPs and initial CME acceleration in addition to the standard scenario of SEP acceleration at the shock front of CMEs.     

Mars Express and Venus Express multi-point observations of geoeffective solar flare events in December 2006

In December 2006, a single active region produced a series of proton solar flares, with X-ray class up to the X9.0 level, starting on 5 December 2006 at 10:35 UT. A feature of this X9.0 flare is that associated MeV particles were observed at Venus and Mars by Venus Express (VEX) and Mars Express (MEX), which were ∼80° and ∼125° east of the flare site, respectively, in addition to the Earth, which was ∼79° west of the flare site. On December 5, 2006, the plasma instruments ASPERA-3 and ASPERA-4 on board MEX and VEX detected a large enhancement in their respective background count levels. This is a typical signature of solar energetic particle (SEP) events, i.e., intensive MeV particle fluxes. The timings of these enhancements were consistent with the estimated field-aligned travel time of particles associated with the X9.0 flare that followed the Parker spiral to reach Venus and Mars. Coronal mass ejection (CME) signatures that might be related to the proton flare were twice identified at Venus within <43 and <67 h after the flare. Although these CMEs did not necessarily originate from the X9.0 flare on December 5, 2006, they most likely originated from the same active region because these characteristics are very similar to flare-associated CMEs observed on the Earth. These observations indicate that CME and flare activities on the invisible side of the Sun may affect terrestrial space weather as a result of traveling more than 90° in both azimuthal directions in the heliosphere. We would also like to emphasize that during the SEP activity, MEX data indicate an approximately one-order of magnitude enhancement in the heavy ion outflow flux from the Martian atmosphere. This is the first observation of the increase of escaping ion flux from Martian atmosphere during an intensive SEP event. This suggests that the solar EUV flux levels significantly affect the atmospheric loss from unmagnetized planets.     

Solar Energetic Particle Events in the 23rd Solar Cycle: Interplanetary Magnetic Field Configuration and Statistical Relationship with Flares and CMEs

We study the influence of the large-scale interplanetary magnetic field configuration on the solar energetic particles (SEPs) as detected at different satellites near Earth and on the correlation of their peak intensities with the parent solar activity. We selected SEP events associated with X- and M-class flares at western longitudes, in order to ensure good magnetic connection to Earth. These events were classified into two categories according to the global interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) configuration present during the SEP propagation to 1 AU: standard solar wind or interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs). Our analysis shows that around 20 % of all particle events are detected when the spacecraft is immersed in an ICME. The correlation of the peak particle intensity with the projected speed of the SEP-associated coronal mass ejection is similar in the two IMF categories of proton and electron events, ≈?0.6. The SEP events within ICMEs show stronger correlation between the peak proton intensity and the soft X-ray flux of the associated solar flare, with correlation coefficient r=0.67±0.13, compared to the SEP events propagating in the standard solar wind, r=0.36±0.13. The difference is more pronounced for near-relativistic electrons. The main reason for the different correlation behavior seems to be the larger spread of the flare longitude in the SEP sample detected in the solar wind as compared to SEP events within ICMEs. We discuss to what extent observational bias, different physical processes (particle injection, transport, etc.), and the IMF configuration can influence the relationship between SEPs and coronal activity.     

Solar particle events with helium-over-hydrogen enhancement in the energy range up to 100 MeV nucl−1

Flux measurements of solar energetic particles (SEPs) in the ERNE instrument onboard SOHO indicate that the abundance of ⁴He-nuclei compared to protons in the energy range up to 100 MeV nucl^–1 was exceptionally high during the particle events on 27 May 1998 and 28 December 1999. The ⁴He/p ratio stayed between 0.15–0.50 for more than ten hours. There was also a prolonged enhancement in helium-3, ³He/⁴H 1%. Observations of EIT and LASCO on board SOHO confirm that the originators of both SEP events were western eruptions, flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The onset of the SEP release took place close to the maximum of flares which were probably triggered by the rising CMEs. The observations suggest that the SEP events were started with the flare-(pre)accelerated particles, but impact of the CME-associated shocks might explain the continuation and modification of the helium and proton fluxes well after the flare production. These observations support the idea that the helium enhancements in the CME-associated events reflect the availability of seed particles that originate previously in flares.     

Correlation Analyses Between the Characteristic Times of Gradual Solar Energetic Particle Events and the Properties of Associated Coronal Mass Ejections

It is generally believed that gradual solar energetic particles (SEPs) are accelerated by shocks associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Using an ice-cream cone model, the radial speed and angular width of 95 CMEs associated with SEP events during 1998 – 2002 are calculated from SOHO/LASCO observations. Then, we investigate the relationships between the kinematic properties of these CMEs and the characteristic times of the intensity-time profile of their accompanied SEP events observed at 1 AU. These characteristic times of SEP are i) the onset time from the accompanying CME eruption at the Sun to the SEP arrival at 1 AU, ii) the rise time from the SEP onset to the time when the SEP intensity is one-half of peak intensity, and iii) the duration over which the SEP intensity is within a factor of two of the peak intensity. It is found that the onset time has neither significant correlation with the radial speed nor with the angular width of the accompanying CME. For events that are poorly connected to the Earth, the SEP rise time and duration have no significant correlation with the radial speed and angular width of the associated CMEs. However, for events that are magnetically well connected to the Earth, the SEP rise time and duration have significantly positive correlations with the radial speed and angular width of the associated CMEs. This indicates that a CME event with wider angular width and higher speed may more easily drive a strong and wide shock near to the Earth-connected interplanetary magnetic field lines, may trap and accelerate particles for a longer time, and may lead to longer rise time and duration of the ensuing SEP event.     

Extremely energetic 4B/X17.2 flare and associated phenomena

We observed 4B/X17.2 flare in Hα from super-active region NOAA 10486 at ARIES, Nainital. This is one of the largest flares of current solar cycle 23, which occurred near the Sun’s center and produced extremely energetic emission almost at all wavelengths from γ-ray to radio-waves. The flare is associated with a bright/fast full-halo earth directed CME, strong type II, type III and type IV radio bursts, an intense proton event and GLE. This flare is well observed by SOHO, RHESSI and TRACE. Our Hα observations show the stretching/de-twisting and eruption of helically twisted S shaped (sigmoid) filament in the south-west direction of the active region with bright shock front followed by rapid increase in intensity and area of the gigantic flare. The flare shows almost similar evolution in Hα, EUV and UV. We measure the speed of Hα ribbon separation and the mean value is ∼ 70 km s^-1. This is used together with photospheric magnetic field to infer a magnetic reconnection rate at three HXR sources at the flare maximum. In this paper, we also discuss the energetics of active region filament, flare and associated CME.     

The characteristics of the coronal mass ejections preceding the associated X-ray and γ-ray burst solar flares

In this study, investigated 14,786 coronal mass ejection (CME) events and 5092 Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) solar flare events (called γ-ray burst solar flare) recorded during 2008–2017, by using temporal and spatial conditions criteria, we found 845 (about 16%) CME events associated with γ-ray burst solar flare events only (hereafter, CME–γ-preflare). All the 845 events are associated with solar flares that are detected in both GBM and RHESSI simultaneously. Investigating the characteristics of these events, we found that the best time interval is 0–2 h before the flare's start time. The mean time interval for these CME–γ-preflare associated events is 61 min, with the flare's duration mean value of 12 min, which is greater than non-associated γ-ray solar flare's duration. CME width of CME-γ-preflare associated events 64° is slightly wider and slightly faster (remain lower than solar wind's speed) than non-associated CME 53°.     

Study of large solar energetic particle events with halo coronal mass ejections and their associated solar flares

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the association of solar energetic particle (SEP) events with halo coronal mass ejections (CME) and with their associated solar flares during the period 1997–2014 (solar cycle 23 and 24). We have found that halo CMEs are more effective in producing SEP events. The occurrence probability and peak fluxes of SEPs strongly depend on the halo CMEs speed (V) as follows. The highest associations, 56% for occurrence probability and 90% for average peak fluxes, are found for the halo CMEs with V> 1400 km s⁻¹ but the lowest associations, 20% for occurrence probability and 5% for average peak fluxes, are found for halo CMEs with speed range 600 ≤ V ≤ 1000 km s⁻¹. We have also examined the relationship between SEP events and halo CME associated solar flares and found that 73% of events are associated with western solar flares while only 27% are with eastern solar flares. For longitudinal study, 0–20° belt is found to be more dominant for the SEP events. The association of SEP events with latitudinal solar flares is also examined in the study. 51% of events are associated with those halo CMEs associated solar flares which occur in the southern hemisphere of the Sun while 49% are with those solar flares that occur in the northern hemisphere of the Sun. Also, 10–20° latitudinal belt is found to be likely associated with the SEP events. Further, 45% of SEP events are associated with M-class solar flares while 44% and 11% are with X and C-class respectively. Maximum number of SEP events are found for the fast halo CME associated X- class solar flares (68%) than M and C- class solar flares.     

On the possible mechanism of the first ground level enhancement in cosmic ray intensity of solar cycle 24

We have carried out this work to comprehend the possible mechanisms of the first ground level enhancement (GLE71 17 May 2012 01:50 UT) in cosmic ray intensity of the solar cycle 24. For this, the cosmic ray intensities registered by neutron monitors at several sites have been analyzed and studied with concurrent solar flares of different energy channels. To assess empirically whether the GLE might have been caused by the energy released from solar flare or CME-driven shock, we identify the possible time line in terms of the lowest spectral index determined from proton fluxes. If the GLE is caused by the energy released from particle acceleration in solar flare, the intensive phase of the flare representing the extreme emission should exist within/around the possible time line. In this respect, it is observed that the possible time line lies within the prominent phase of CME-driven shock. For better understanding, we have checked the possible relativistic energy with respect to solar flare as well as CME-driven shock. As witnessed, if the extreme emission phase of the flare is considered as the reason for the causation of GLE peak, the flare components procured insufficient amount of energy (≤～0.085 GeV) to produce a GLE. If the extreme emission phase of the flare is also considered as the dominator along GLE onset, the possible energy procurement (≤～0.414 GeV) is still not adequate to produce a GLE. In contrast, the CME-driven shock is capable of procuring enough possible relativistic energy (≥～1.21 GeV) that is sufficient amount of the energy for a GLE production. Any amount of the energy (<0.414 GeV) released from preceding flare components is supposed to have been contributed to the shock process. Thus, it is assumed that the GLE71 was possibly caused by the energy released from the shock acceleration, which might have been boosted by the energy emanated from preceding flare.     

The 26 December 2001 Solar Eruptive Event Responsible for GLE63: III. CME,Shock Waves,and Energetic Particles

The SOL2001-12-26 moderate solar eruptive event (GOES importance M7.1, microwaves up to 4000 sfu at 9.4 GHz, coronal mass ejection (CME) speed 1446 km?s^?1) produced strong fluxes of solar energetic particles and ground-level enhancement (GLE) of cosmic-ray intensity (GLE63). To find a possible reason for the atypically high proton outcome of this event, we study multi-wavelength images and dynamic radio spectra and quantitatively reconcile the findings with each other. An additional eruption probably occurred in the same active region about half an hour before the main eruption. The latter produced two blast-wave-like shocks during the impulsive phase. The two shock waves eventually merged around the radial direction into a single shock traced up to \(25~\mathrm{R}_{\odot}\) as a halo ahead of the expanding CME body, in agreement with an interplanetary Type II event recorded by the Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation (WAVES) experiment on the Wind spacecraft. The shape and kinematics of the halo indicate an intermediate regime of the shock between the blast wave and bow shock at these distances. The results show that i) the shock wave appeared during the flare rise and could accelerate particles earlier than usually assumed; ii) the particle event could be amplified by the preceding eruption, which stretched closed structures above the developing CME, facilitated its lift-off and escape of flare-accelerated particles, enabled a higher CME speed and stronger shock ahead; iii) escape of flare-accelerated particles could be additionally facilitated by reconnection of the flux rope, where they were trapped, with a large coronal hole; and iv) the first eruption supplied a rich seed population accelerated by a trailing shock wave.     

An association of CMEs with solar flares detected by Fermi γ-ray burst monitor during solar cycle 24

By performing certain spatial and temporal criteria, we obtained 492 CME events simultaneously associated with GBM solar flare events (hereafter, GBM-flare–CME) from the total number 5123 Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) solar flares and 15228 Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) detected during the solar cycle 24 (2008–2019). Among these 492 events, which represent about 9.6% of the total number of the detected GBM flares, there are just 381 events (77.4%) representing the CMEs associated with the flares that are detected instantly by both GBM and RHESSI detectors. We found no significant distinction in the results after applying the spatial criteria compared with those arising from applying the temporal criteria only.Actually, all CMEs are ejected within the flare's preflare and the impulsive phases only. From our results, we conclude that the GBM flares whose long duration are most frequently associated with faster and wider CMEs and vice versa. In addition, the longer the flare's duration, the more interval time between the start time of GBM solar flare and CME's ejection time through a linear correlation [Mean Interval = 0.464 × Duration (min)] with a correlation coefficient equals 0.93. We conclude also that, the highly probable, γ-ray emitting flares (detected by GBM only) have a shorter duration and time interval than X-ray flares (detected also by RHESSI). As well as the GBM - CMEs events, without RHESSI associated CMEs are faster and wider than those associated with RHESSI events.     

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.     

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.     

Multi-spacecraft observations of particle events and interplanetary shocks during November/December 1982

We present a sample of solar energetic particle events observed between November 18 and December 31, 1982 by the HELIOS 1, the VENERA 13, and IMP 8 spacecraft. During the entire time period all three spacecraft were magnetically connected to the western hemisphere of the Sun with varying radial and angular distances from the flares. Eleven proton events, all of them associated with interplanetary shocks, were observed by the three spacecraft. These events are visible in the low-energy (about 4 MeV) as well as the high-energy (30 MeV) protons. In the largest events protons were observed up to energies of about 100 MeV. The shocks were rather fast and in some cases extended to more than 90% east of the flare site. Assuming a symmetrical configuration, this would correspond to a total angular extent of some interplanetary shocks of about 180%. In addition, due to the use of three spacecraft at different locations we find some indication for the shape of the shock front: the shocks are fastest close to the flare normal and are slower at the eastern flank. For particle acceleration we find that close to the flare normal the shock is most effective in accelerating energetic particles. This efficiency decreases for observers connected to the eastern flank of the shock. In this case, the efficiency of shock acceleration for high-energy protons decreases faster than for low-energy protons. Observation of the time-intensity profiles combined with variations of the anisotropy and of the steepness of the proton spectrum allows one in general to define two components of an event which we term solar and interplanetary. We attempt to describe the results in terms of a radially variable efficiency of shock acceleration. Under the assumption that the shock is responsible not only for the interplanetary, but also for the solar component, we find evidence for a very efficient particle acceleration while the shock is still close to the Sun, e.g., in the corona. In addition, we discuss this series of strong flares and interplanetary shocks as a possible source for the formation of a superevent.     

Statistical Study of the CME-Solar Flares Associated Events

The aim of this paper is studying the relation between the coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and their associated solar flares. I used the CMEs data (obtained from CME catalogue) which observed by SOHO/LASCO, during the Solar Cycle 23rd (1996–2006), during this period I selected 12,433 CME records. Also I used the X-ray flares data which provided geostationary operational environmental satellite (GOES), during the same interval in the 1–8 Å GOES channel, the recorded flare events are 22,688. I filtered these CMEs and solar flare events to select 529 CME-Flare events. I found that there is a moderate relation between the solar flare fluxes and their associated CME energies, where R = 58 %. In addition I found that 61 % of the CME-Flare associated events ejected from the solar surface after the occurrence of the associated flare. Furthermore I found that the CME-Flare relation improved during the period of high solar activity. Finally, I examined the CME association rate as a function of flare longitude and I found that the CME association rate of the total 529 selected CME-Flare events are mostly disk-Flare events.     

Energy Spectra of Accelerated Solar Protons From Different Sources – I. Reconstruction and Properties of the Source Spectrum

It is widely accepted now that a significant fraction of the solar energetic particles (SEPs) observed at 1 AU after major solar flares are actually accelerated at a CME-driven shock. In addition, in the emerging new paradigm for SEP acceleration in different sources at or near the Sun, the existence of two types of flares – impulsive and gradual – is recognized. Within this concept, it is tempting also to separate SEPs into two groups – interacting and escaping – and to derive their 'source spectra' from observational data on various flare emissions (protons, gamma rays, neutrons, etc.). By different techniques, those spectra have been reconstructed for 80 solar proton events (SPE) in 1949–1991. In this paper, all available data on the source spectra of solar protons are summarized and revised. We discuss in detail existing uncertainties in the derived spectral indexes, consider other methodological problems involved in this study, and suggest several possible lines for the future investigations of solar flares and SCRs using the source spectrum data. It is noted that some peculiarities of the spectra, for instance, spectral steepening for high energies, may be characteristic of large events of the 23 February 1956 type.