Recurrence of Energetic Particle Flux Anisotropy as Observed by Erne on 9 July 1996

A solar energetic particle event was observed on 9 July 1996, by the ERNE sensors LED and HED on board the SOHO spacecraft. The arrival of the first protons in the energy range >20 MeV took place at 09:55 UT, 43 min after the maximum in the X-ray and Hα radiation of a flare located at S10 W30. The rise phase of the particle intensities at all energies was exceptionally rapid. At 12:50 UT, the intensities dropped in all energy channels. Simultaneously, the magnetic field instrument MFI on board WIND, not far from SOHO, detected a sharp and large change in the magnetic field direction. The analysis of the directional measurements of ERNE in the energy range 14–17 MeV shows the presence of a strong flux anisotropy during the whole period 10:10–12:50 UT. From 12:50 UT until about 16:00 UT, the directional analysis of the proton fluxes gives only a weak anisotropy at the limit of the sensor resolution. Later on, the flux anisotropy was found to recur, indicating a continuous injection of particles into the flux tubes connected to the SOHO spacecraft. These experimental results lead to strict limits on particle injection and transport models. The first period of the anisotropy and its recurrent phase cover 24 hours. This suggests an extended injection of particles. The strength and stability of the anisotropy indicate that, during these periods, SOHO was in an interplanetary sector where the particle transport was almost scatter-free. On the other hand, during the intermediate 3-hr period, we observed particles which traveled in a sector of diffusive transport or which were retarded by magnetic field disturbances not far from the observation site.     

First Energetic Particle Events Observed by the ERNE Instrument

The energetic particle instrument ERNE on-board SOHO started its observations on December 15, 1995. The low-energy sensor of ERNE, LED, is capable of measuring particles in the energy range from 1 to 10 MeV nucl^-1. From the beginning of the year 1996 until May 22, 1996, LED-observations included four energetic particle events above threshold intensities. An energetic particle event caused by a corotating interaction region that accelerated protons upto 10 MeV, was observed during January 20–25. Another similar particle event occured on May 6–12. The events were separated by four solar rotation periods. They had similar time profiles, but the one in May had a harder spectrum and a lower intensity level. The ⁴He-to-proton ratios were in accordance with the solar wind value. Energetic particles observed during April 22–23 and May 14–17 were accelerated at the Sun. The first one was apparently an outcome from an active region observed on the west limb by telescopes on-board SOHO. Protons were detected at energies from 1 to 10 MeV. For this event, the⁴He-to-proton ratio in the range 1.5–5 MeV nucl^-1 was 3%. No ³He ions were detected. The period of May 14–15 was, in contrast, extremely ³He-rich: it had a³He-to-proton ratio of 1.5 ± 0.6 and a ³He-to- ^4He ratio as high as 8. The period of May 14–17 comprised at least three individual, one-day-long events. The first two events were ³He-rich, while the last one seemed to have a normal composition.     

Hybrid Solar Energetic Particle Events Observed on Board Soho

We summarize ERNE/SOHO observations of solar energetic particle events associated with impulsive soft X-ray flares and LASCO coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The new observational data support an idea that the >10 MeV proton acceleration may be initiated at different coronal sources, operating in the flaring active region and on the global coronal scale, in concert with CME development. However, the particle acceleration continues beyond the coronal scales and may culminate at the interplanetary CME well after the flare. We emphasize the importance of CME liftoff/aftermath processes in the solar corona and the possible role of seed particle re-acceleration, which may explain the existence of hybrid solar energetic particle events.     

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.     

Energetic particles in space

Particles ranging in energy from just above solar wind, 1 keV, to galactic cosmic rays of many GeV or greater are observed to be always present in the interplanetary medium. These suprathermal particles appear to come from many different sources: among them the galaxy and nearby interstellar medium, the Sun, planetary magnetospheres and bow shock waves. Recent studies have shown that the interplanetary medium itself is a major source of low energy, 10² MeV ions, particularly during solar quiet times. Although the physical mechanisms by which various suprathermal particle populations are produced are not well understood, it appears that collisionless shock waves are often involved in the acceleration of these particles. Here we review previous observations of these suprathermal particles and present some preliminary new observations of low energy, <10² keV particles from experiments aboard the ISEE-1, 2, and 3 spacecraft.Review talk given at the meeting of Commission 10 of the International Astronomical Union General Assembly, Montreal, Canada, August 15, 1979.     

The gamma ray spectrometer for the Solar Maximum Mission

The Solar Maximum Mission Gamma Ray Experiment (SMM GRE) utilizes an actively shielded, multicrystal scintillation spectrometer to measure the flux of solar gamma rays. The instrument provides a 476-channel pulse height spectrum (with energy resolution of 7% at 662 keV) every 16.38 s over the energy range 0.3–9 MeV. Higher time resolution (2 s) is available in three windows between 3.5 and 6.5 MeV to study prompt gamma ray line emission at 4.4 and 6.1 MeV. Gamma ray spectral analysis can be extended to 15 MeV on command. Photons in the energy band from 300–350 keV are recorded with a time resolution of 64 ms. A high energy configuration also gives the spectrum of photons in the energy range from 10–100 MeV and the flux of neutrons 20 MeV. Both have a time resolution of 2 s. Auxiliary X-ray detectors will provide spectra with 1-sec time resolution over the energy range of 10–140 keV. The instrument is designed to measure the intensity, energy, and Doppler shift of narrow gamma ray lines as well as the intensity of extremely broadened lines and the photon continuum. The main objective is to use this time and spectral information from both nuclear gamma ray lines and the photon continuum in a direct study of the dynamics of the solar flare/particle acceleration phenomena.     

High-Energy 3He-Rich Solar Particle Events

Energetic particle observations of the ERNE instrument on board SOHO enable measurements of ³He and ⁴He fluxes beyond 15 MeV nucleon^–1 with good statistical resolution. We report results of a survey of the ERNE observations covering the period from 8 February 1999 to 6 December 2000. We find 10 and 5 days during which the ³He-to-⁴He ratio exceeds the levels of 20% and 50%, respectively. Those periods include, in particular, four ³He-rich events that are sufficiently strong for a reasonably accurate estimate of the time-intensity profiles. We analyze the history of solar and interplanetary phenomena associated with these high-energy ³He-rich events. Basic properties of such events and significant solar and interplanetary factors are formulated. The significant factors comprise, in particular, a strong, impulsive flare, typically observed about day before the ³He onset, and an interplanetary shock wave or magnetic field enhancement arriving at 1 AU about frac43 day after the ³He onset. The high-energy ³He-rich events make up a new kind of hybrid events, possessing the impulsive-type composition and the gradual-type time-profiles. We emphasize a dependence of the resultant particle event on the history of the particular solar eruption comprising coronal mass ejection (CME) and the flare associated with the CME.     

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.     

Organization of Energetic Particles by the Solar Wind Structure During the Declining to Minimum Phase of Solar Cycle 23

We investigate the organization of the low energy energetic particles (≤1 MeV) by solar wind structures, in particular corotating interaction regions (CIRs) and shocks driven by interplanetary coronal mass ejections, during the declining-to-minimum phase of Solar Cycle 23 from Carrington rotation 1999 to 2088 (January 2003 to October 2009). Because CIR-associated particles are very prominent during the solar minimum, the unusually long solar minimum period of this current cycle provides an opportunity to examine the overall organization of CIR energetic particles for a much longer period than during any other minimum since the dawn of the Space Age. We find that the particle enhancements associated with CIRs this minimum period recurred for many solar rotations, up to 30 at times, due to several high-speed solar wind streams that persisted. However, very few significant CIR-related energetic particle enhancements were observed towards the end of our study period, reflecting the overall weak high-speed streams that occurred at this time. We also contrast the solar minimum observations with the declining phase when a number of solar energetic particle events occurred, producing a mixed particle population. In addition, we compare the observations from this minimum period with those from the previous solar cycle. One of the main differences we find is the shorter recurrence rate of the high-speed solar wind streams (～10 solar rotations) and the related CIR energetic particle enhancements for the Solar Cycle 22 minimum period. Overall our study provides insight into the coexistence of different populations of energetic particles, as well as an overview of the large-scale organization of the energetic particle populations approaching the beginning of Solar Cycle 24.     

The role of suprathermal particle measurements in CrossScale studies of collisionless plasma processes

The CrossScale mission will advance our understanding of fundamental plasma processes in collisionless plasmas. It will exploit the excellent natural plasma laboratory provided by the Earth’s magnetosphere and the near-Earth solar wind and, in particular, carry out multi-scale studies that will strongly complement plasma studies in ground-based laboratories. Previous studies of collisionless plasmas in space environments across the solar system have shown the ubiquitous nature of suprathermal particles and that these particles exhibit a power-law energy spectrum. In this paper we discuss the great significance of these suprathermal particles for CrossScale studies. We show that the presence of these particles is a natural consequence of the collisionless regime as they can propagate across the heliosphere with little spectral change and are not thermalised by collisions. They are a key indicator of the non-equilibrium nature of collisionless plasmas and an important source of free energy that can drive plasma processes. We discuss how these suprathermal particles influence the overall properties of the plasma. In particular, the energy distribution of particles follows a Kappa, rather than Maxwellian, distribution and thus the plasma does not have a single thermodynamic temperature. We also discuss the importance of the suprathermal tail as a tool to diagnose the processes responsible for particle energisation in collisionless plasmas. Such energisation is a common feature in collisionless plasmas, especially in terms of the primary science targets for CrossScale: reconnection, shocks and turbulence. Finally we also touch on the value of using CrossScale studies to provide ground truth measurements for a number of astrophysical techniques that exploit the effects of energetic electrons in the distant universe. Throughout the paper, we stress that suprathermal (30 keV-1 MeV) measurements are essential to fully characterise particle distributions. We show that such measurements will benefit greatly from the improved spatial and temporal resolution (compared to Cluster) that is proposed for the HEP instrument on CrossScale.     

Relativistic electrons from the Sun observed by IMP-4

Data are presented from the IMP-4 satellite of 0.3–12 MeV electrons from the Sun between May 24, 1967 and May 2, 1969. Correlations with contemporary proton intensity increases at energies above 1 MeV are studied. Classical solar flare events such as those frequently observed from 30°W–60°W in solar longitude are not discussed. Categories of unusual events are defined and examples of each type are given. Discussion of these events centers around the emission and propagation of energetic particles from the point of origin on the Sun to the Earth. The results of this study are the following: (1) The differential electron energy spectrum (0.3–12 keV) from solar flares appears to be a constant of the flare process, with the spectral index = (-)3.0 ± 0.2. (2) Particle emission from solar flares contains a prompt component, which is injected into the interplanetary medium beyond the Sun and which is responsible for the diffusion characteristics of solar particle events, and a delayed component which is effectively contained in the lower solar atmosphere where it diffuses typically ± 100° in longitude and gradually escapes into interplanetary space. The delayed component gives rise to the corotating features commonly observed after the impulsive and diffusive onset from the prompt component. This is not the same as the two component model discussed by Lin (1970a) in which 40 keV electrons are often observed as a separate phenomenon and frequently precede higher energy particles observed at 1 AU. (3) Storage of electrons > 300 keV and protons > 1 MeV is essential to explain emission and propagation characteristics of solar particle events. In some rare cases the storage mechanism appears to be very efficient, culminating in a catastrophic decay of the trapping region. (4) The events with low proton/electron ratios all occur at least three weeks after the previous relativistic electron producing flare.     

Energetic Particle Fluxes during the Bastille Day Solar Eruption

We report on our observations of solar energetic particle fluxes of p, He, C, O, Ne, Mg, Si, and Fe ions measured by the Energetic and Relativistic Nucleon and Electron (ERNE) experiment associated with the Bastille Day solar flare and coronal mass ejection (CME) on 14 July 2000. We observed two clear maxima of the Fe/O ratio at the energies 8.5–15 MeV nucl⁻¹. The first Fe/O maximum occurred ∼ 3 hours after the beginning of the particle event, and the second maximum ∼ 22 hours after the first one at the arrival of the shock associated with the Bastille Day eruption. We also observed a change in the energy spectrum of oxygen concurrent with a change in the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field at the start of the second enhancement of the Fe/O ratio. We propose an interpretation of the particle event where observed interplanetary particle fluxes are associated with two different particle sources near the Sun and in interplanetary space. We suggest that heavy ions observed during the first period of the Fe/O enhancement were released when a coronal shock reached a magnetic foot point connected to 1 AU. The second maximum of Fe/O occurred when spacecraft encountered Fe-rich material stored in magnetic field flux tubes early in the event and was possibly reaccelerated by the interplanetary shock.     

Implications of Proton Anisotropy Development Observed by the Erne Instrument During the 9 July 1996 Solar Particle Event

We analysed the solar particle event following the 9 July 1996 solar flare. High-energy protons were detected by the ERNE instrument on board SOHO. Anisotropy of arriving protons revealed very peculiar non-monotonic development. A short period of almost isotropic distribution was imbedded into the prolonged period of beam-like distribution of 14–17 MeV protons. This implies the existence of a narrow magnetic channel with a much smaller mean free path than in the surrounding quiet solar wind plasma. We used Monte Carlo simulations of interplanetary transport to fit the observed anisotropies and intensity–time profiles. Proton injection and transport parameters are estimated. The injection scenario is found to be very close to the scenario of the 24 May 1990 event, but the intensity and the interplanetary transport parameters are different. The extreme anisotropy observed implies prolonged injection of high-energy protons at the Sun and at the interplanetary shock front, and either a very large mean free path (≥ 5 AU) outside the slow transport channel, or alternatively, a somewhat smaller mean free path (≈2 AU) and enhanced focusing between the Sun and the Earth.     

Lifetime of solar flare particles in coronal storage regions

Most discussions of lifetime of flare particles in the solar corona have assumed that collision loss is the dominant means of slowing and stopping these particles. The customary formulas used to estimate the rate of collision loss assume individual fast particles interacting with relatively cold matter. However, it is quite possible that the solar cosmic rays are not imbedded in 10⁶ K coronal material but rather all particles in the storage region are energetic. Collision times are sufficiently short so that the energy spectrum may approach a maxwellian distribution with kT on the order of 30 keV. If this is the case, the rate of collision loss will be greatly reduced. Bremsstrahlung and magnetobremsstrahlung then will be the important energy losses. To account for the presence of appreciable numbers of MeV particles, it is probably necessary to postulate the existence of a non-thermal tail in the stored particle distribution.     

The particle background of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">X-IFU</Emphasis> instrument

In this paper we are going to review the latest estimates for the particle background expected on the X-IFU instrument onboard of the ATHENA mission. The particle background is induced by two different particle populations: the so called “soft protons” and the Cosmic rays. The first component is composed of low energy particles (< 100s keV) that get funnelled by the mirrors towards the focal plane, losing part of their energy inside the filters and inducing background counts inside the instrument sensitivity band. The latter component is induced by high energy particles (> 100 MeV) that possess enough energy to cross the spacecraft and reach the detector from any direction, depositing a small fraction of their energy inside the instrument. Both these components are estimated using Monte Carlo simulations and the latest results are presented here.     

The NATALYA-2M spectrometer of high-energy radiations for the CORONAS-PHOTON space project

The NATALYA-2M high-energy radiation spectrometer is an element of the complex of scientific equipment of the CORONAS-PHOTON satellite. The instrument intended for registering gamma radiation of solar flares in the broad energy range of 0.2–1600 MeV as well as neutrons of solar origin with energies of 20–300 MeV represents itself as a scintillation spectrometer based on CsI(Tl) crystals with a total area of 32 × 38 cm² and the thickness of 18 cm. The spectra and time profiles of the gamma quanta count rates are measured in four subranges: R (0.2–2 MeV), L (1–18 MeV), M (7–250 MeV), and H (50–1600 MeV). Depending on the gamma radiation energy, the effective area of the instrument varies within the range from 750 to 900 cm², and the energy resolution at the Cs-137 line (662 keV) is 10%, it being about 30% at energies higher than 50 MeV. A system of stabilization based on the signal from the generator of reference light pulses is used to provide stability and automated adjustment of the parameters of spectrometric modules. The measuring channels of the instrument are calibrated during the flight using a source of “tagged” gamma quanta on the Co-60 radioactive isotope. Polystyrene scintillation counters are used to provide protection from the background of charged particles. The “CORONAS-PHOTON” spacecraft (SC) was launched from the Plesetsk spaceport on January 30, 2009, to a low circular near-Earth orbit (the altitude is 550 km, the inclination is 82.5°). On February 27, the first scientific data were obtained from the NATALYA-2M instrument. The results of the flight calibration of the instrument detectors in different energy channels demonstrated good agreement with the ground measurements. The paper describes the instrument and observational potentials of the NATALYA-2M spectrometer, gives the results of the adjustment and calibration, and exemplifies the registration of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)on the orbit.     

Analysis of the complex solar particle event on April 29–30, 1973

Based on the data of the high-apogee satellite Prognoz-3, the April 29–30, 1973 solar particle event is analysed. The event's complex energetic particle, interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind plasma properties are discussed. The unusual behaviour of solar particles up to energies 100 MeV can well be explained in terms of the interaction with an interplanetary shock wave system passing the Earth. Assuming that the structure of the interplanetary shock wave system is similar to that considered first by Parker (1961) and Gold (1959) and reviewed later by Hundhausen (1972) and Dryer (1974, 1975), the main characteristics of the energetic particle fluxes, solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field can be understood.     

The betatron effect in collapsing magnetic traps

We consider the question of how the betatron effect affects the particle acceleration in a magnetic trap with a rapidly decreasing length. We show that the additional increase in energy caused by the betatron acceleration as the trap contracts is exactly offset by the decrease in the time of particle confinement in the trap, because the loss cone becomes larger during the contraction. As a result, the particle energy at the time of escape from the trap remains the same as that in a collapsing trap without contraction. We estimate the Alfvén-pumping efficiency in a collapsing trap in connection with the problem of particle acceleration in solar flares. The additional energy acquired by particles from magnetic-field oscillations is shown to be negligible. We discuss the possible observational manifestations of the betatron effect in solar flares.     

A study of solar modulation of medium energy primary cosmic ray nuclei

The energy spectra of primary cosmic rays were studied in the energy interval 150 to 450 MeV/nucl by using balloon-borne cellulose-nitrate solid-state plastic detector. Effects of solar modulation were studied using the theoretical spectrum ofH ₁ nuclei near the solar minimum in 1964 as the demodulated spectrum. The ‘force-field’ potential which fit the experimental results was estimated to be 270 MeV/nucl.     

Formation of SCR energy spectra during stochastic acceleration with allowance for Coulomb losses

The stochastic acceleration of heavy ions by Alfvén turbulence is considered with allowance for Coulomb losses. The pattern of energy dependence of these losses gives rise to characteristic features in the energy spectra of the accelerated particles at energies of the order of several MeV nucleon^?1. The manifestation of these features in the spectra is sensitive to the temperature and density of the medium, which can serve as a basis for plasma diagnostics in the flare region. Some impulsive solar energetic particle events during which features in the spectra of ³He and ⁴He were observed are considered as an example.