Size Distributions of Solar Proton Events: Methodological and Physical Restrictions

Based on the new catalogue of solar proton events (SPEs) for the period of 1997?–?2009 (Solar Cycle 23) we revisit the long-studied problem of the event-size distributions in the context of those constructed for other solar-flare parameters. Recent results on the problem of size distributions of solar flares and proton events are briefly reviewed. Even a cursory acquaintance with this research field reveals a rather mixed and controversial picture. We concentrate on three main issues: i) SPE size distribution for \({>}\,10~\mbox{MeV}\) protons in Solar Cycle 23; ii) size distribution of \({>}\,1~\mbox{GV}\) proton events in 1942?–?2014; iii) variations of annual numbers for \({>}\,10~\mbox{MeV}\) proton events on long time scales (1955?–?2015). Different results are critically compared; most of the studies in this field are shown to suffer from vastly different input datasets as well as from insufficient knowledge of underlying physical processes in the SPEs under consideration. New studies in this field should be made on more distinct physical and methodological bases. It is important to note the evident similarity in size distributions of solar flares and superflares in Sun-like stars.