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NASA NTRS2021

Comparative Analysis of the 2020 November 29 Solar Energetic Particle Event Observed by Parker Solar Probe

We analyze two specific features of the intense solar energetic particle (SEP) event observed by Parker Solar Probe (PSP) between 2020 November 29 and 2020 December 2. The interplanetary counterpart of the coronal mass ejection (CME) on 2020 November 29 that generated the SEP event (hereafter ICME-2) arrived at PSP (located at 0.8 au from the Sun) on 2020 December 1. ICME-225 was preceded by the passage of an interplanetary shock at 18:35 UT on 2020 November 30 (hereafter26S2), that in turn was preceded by another ICME (i.e., ICME-1) observed in situ on 2020 November 30. The two interesting features of this SEP event at PSP are: First, the presence of the intervening ICME-1 affected the evolution of the.8 MeV proton intensity time profiles resulting in the observation of inverted energy spectra throughout the passage of ICME-1. Second, the sheath region preceding ICME-2 was characterized by weak magnetic fields compared to those measured immediately after the passage of the shock S2 and during the passage of ICME-2. Comparison with prior SEP events measured at 1 au but with similar characteristics indicates that (1) low-energy particles accelerated by S2 were excluded from propagating throughout ICME-1, and (2) the low magnetic fields measured in the sheath of ICME-2 resulted from the properties of the upstream solar wind encountered by ICME-2 that was propagated into the sheath; whereas the high energetic particle energy density in the sheath did not play a dominant role in the formation of these low magnetic fields.

D Lario↗
NASA NTRS1992

Counterstreaming solar wind halo electron events on open field lines?

Counterstreaming solar wind halo electron events have been identified as a common 1 AU signature of coronal mass ejection events, and have generally been interpreted as indicative of closed magnetic field topologies, i.e., magnetic loops or flux ropes rooted at both ends in the Sun, or detached plasmoids. In this paper we examine the possibility that these events may instead occur preferentially on open field lines, and that counterstreaming results from reflection or injection behind interplanetary shocks or from mirroring from regions of compressed magnetic field farther out in the heliosphere. We conclude that neither of these suggested sources of counterstreaming electron beams is viable and that the best interpretation of observed counterstreaming electron events in the solar wind remains that of passage of closed field structures.

Gosling, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Propagation of Interplanetary Disturbances in the Outer Heliosphere

Contents include the following: 1. We have developed a one-dimensional, spherically symmetric, multi-fluid MHD model that includes solar wind protons and electrons, pickup ions, and interstellar neutral hydrogen. This model advances the existing solar wind models for the outer heliosphere in two important ways: one is that it distinguishes solar wind protons from pickup ions, and the other is that it allows for energy transfer from pickup ions to the solar wind protons. Model results compare favorably with the Voyager 2 observations. 2. 2. Solar wind slowdown and interstellar neutral density. The solar wind in the outer heliosphere is fundamentally different from that in the inner heliosphere since the effects of interstellar neutrals become significant. 3. ICME propagation from the inner to outer heliosphere. Large coronal mass ejections (CMEs) have major effects on the structure of the solar wind and the heliosphere. The plasma and magnetic field can be compressed ahead of interplanetary CMEs. 4. During the current solar cycle (Cycle 23), several major CMEs associated with solar flares produced large transient shocks which were observed by widely-separated spacecraft such as Wind at Earth and Voyager 2 beyond 60 AU. Using data from these spacecraft, we use the multi-fluid model to investigate shock propagation and interaction in the heliosphere. Specifically, we studied the Bastille Day 2000, April 2001 and Halloween 2003 events. 5. Statistical properties of the solar wind in the outer heliosphere. In a collaboration with L.F. Burlaga of GSFC, it is shown that the basic statistical properties of the solar wind in the outer heliosphere can be well produced by our model. We studied the large-scale heliospheric magnetic field strength fluctuations as a function of distance from the Sun during the declining phase of a solar cycle, using our numerical model with observations made at 1 AU during 1995 as input. 6. Radial heliospheric magnetic field events. The heliospheric magnetic field (HMF) direction, on average, conforms well to the Parker spiral.

Wang, Chi↗
NASA NTRS2022

Extreme Energetic Particle Events By Superflare-Associated CMES From Solar-Like Stars

Discovery of frequent superflares on active cool stars opened a new avenue in understanding the properties of eruptive events and their impact on exoplanetary environments. Solar data suggest that coronal mass ejections (CMEs) should be associated with superflares on active solar-like planet hosts and produce solar/stellar energetic particle (SEP/StEP) events. Here, we apply the 2D Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Heliosphere model to simulate the SEPs accelerated via CME-driven shocks from the Sun and young solar-like stars. We derive the scaling of SEP fluence and hardness of energy spectra with CME speed and associated flare energy. These results have crucial implications for the prebiotic chemistry and expected atmospheric biosignatures from young rocky exoplanets as well as the chemistry and isotopic composition of circumstellar disks around infant solar-like stars.

Junxiang Hu↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Active Solar-Like Stars and the Production of Prebiotically Relevant Molecules in Young Earth Like Exoplanet

The magnetic activity of young G type stars produces elevated ionizing radiation fluxes for its planetary system. X-ray, Extreme UV, flare radiation and the associated precipitating energetic particles accelerated in coronal mass ejection driven shocks can drive complex chemistry in the exoplanetary atmosphere, and ignite the production of complex molecules (Airapetian et al., 2016; Hayworth et al. 2021). To address the efficiency of the production of prebiotic molecules in young Earth-like environments, we developed and coupled a set of atmospheric models that account for the determination of the flux of precipitating particle, its ionization/dissociation effects in the planetary atmosphere, and the subsequent chemistry that leads to the creation of prebiotic molecules and greenhouse gases. We show that the productions rates are high enough to provide critical input for the origin of prebiotic molecules on the early Earth. Overall, the impact of the space weather on the atmospheric photochemistry should not be neglected when assessing the factors of habitability of the environments of young rocky (exo)planets.

Guillaume Gronoff↗
NASA NTRS2023

Solar Activity Relations in Energetic Electron Events Measured By the MESSENGER Mission

Aims. We perform a statistical study of the relations between the properties of solar energetic electron (SEE) events measured by the MESSENGER mission from 2010 to 2015 and the parameters of the respective parent solar activity phenomena in order to identify the potential correlations between them. During the time of analysis, the MESSENGER heliocentric distance varied between 0.31 and 0.47 au. Methods. We used a published list of 61 SEE events measured by MESSENGER, which includes information on the near-relativistic electron peak intensities, the peak-intensity energy spectral indices, and the measured X-ray peak intensity of the flares related to the SEE events. Taking advantage of multi-viewpoint remote-sensing observations, we reconstructed, whenever possible, the associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and shock waves; and we determined the three-dimensional (3D) properties (location, speed, and width) of the CMEs and the maximum speed of the 3D CME-driven shocks in the corona. We used different methods (Spearman, Pearson, and a Bayesian approach, namely the Kelly method to linear regression) to estimate the correlation coefficients between the flare intensity, maximum speed at the apex of the CME-driven shock, CME speed at the apex, and CME width with the electron peak intensities and with the energy spectral indices. In this statistical study, we considered and addressed the limitations of the particle instrument on board MESSENGER (elevated background intensity level, anti-Sun pointing). Results. There is an asymmetry to the east in the range of connection angles (CAs) for which the SEE events present the highest peak intensities, where the CA is the longitudinal separation between the footpoint of the magnetic field connecting to the spacecraft and the flare location. Based on this asymmetry, we define a subsample of well-connected events as when −65° ≤ CA ≤ +33°. For the well-connected sample, we find moderate to strong correlations between the near-relativistic electron peak intensity and the 3D CME-driven shock maximum speed at the apex (Spearman: cc = 0.53 ± 0.05; Pearson: cc = 0.65 ± 0.04; Kelly: cc = 0.87 ± 0.20), the flare peak intensity (Spearman: cc = 0.63 ± 0.03; Pearson: cc = 0.59 ± 0.03; Kelly: cc = 0.74 ± 0.30), and the 3D CME speed at the apex (Spearman: cc = 0.50 ± 0.04; Pearson: cc = 0.46 ± 0.03; Kelly: cc = 0.60 ± 0.39). When including poorly connected events (full sample), the relations between the peak intensities and the solar-activity phenomena are blurred, showing lower correlation coefficients. Conclusions. Based on the comparison of the correlation coefficients presented in this study using near 0.4 au data, (1) both flare and shock-related processes may contribute to the acceleration of near relativistic electrons in large SEE events, in agreement with previous studies based on near 1 au data; and (2) the maximum speed of the CME-driven shock is a better parameter to investigate particle-acceleration-related mechanisms than the average CME speed, as suggested by the stronger correlation with the SEE peak intensities.

Sun↗
NASA NTRS2010

Radio-Loud Coronal Mass Ejections Without Shocks Near Earth

Type II radio bursts are produced by low energy electrons accelerated in shocks driven by corona) mass ejections (CMEs). One can infer shocks near the Sun, in the Interplanetary medium, and near Earth depending on the wavelength range in which the type II bursts are produced. In fact, type II bursts are good indicators of CMEs that produce solar energetic particles. If the type 11 burst occurs from a source on the Earth-facing side of the solar disk, it is highly likely that a shock arrives at Earth in 2-3 days and hence can be used to predict shock arrival at Earth. However, a significant fraction of CMEs producing type II bursts were not associated shocks at Earth, even though the CMEs originated close to the disk center. There are several reasons for the lack of shock at 1 AU. CMEs originating at large central meridian distances (CMDs) may be driving a shock, but the shock may not be extended sufficiently to reach to the Sun-Earth line. Another possibility is CME cannibalism because of which shocks merge and one observes a single shock at Earth. Finally, the CME-driven shock may become weak and dissipate before reaching 1 AU. We examined a set of 30 type II bursts observed by the Wind/WAVES experiment that had the solar sources very close to the disk center (within a CMD of 15 degrees), but did not have shock at Earth. We find that the near-Sun speeds of the associated CMEs average to approx.600 km/s, only slightly higher than the average speed of CMEs associated with radio-quiet shocks. However, the fraction of halo CMEs is only approx.28%, compared to 40% for radio-quiet shocks and 72% for all radio-loud shocks. We conclude that the disk-center radio loud CMEs with no shocks at 1 AU are generally of lower energy and they drive shocks only close to the Sun.

Gopalswamy, N.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Energetic particles and coronal mass ejections in the high latitude heliosphere: Ulysses-LET observations

The COSPIN Low Energy Telescope (LET) onboard the Ulysses spacecraft measures protons, alphas and heavier ions at energies of approximately 1 to 50 MeV/n. Ulysses measurements offer favorable opportunities to study the effects of solar activity in the out-of-ecliptic regions of the heliosphere. Using LET data, we have investigated the properties of transient energetic ions at high heliographic latitudes when Ulysses was permanently immersed in high speed solar wind and magnetically connected to the Sun on open magnetic field lines. Recurrent increases in the fluxes of energetic ions at high heliographic latitudes at frequencies related to the solar rotation period were found to occur in association with co-rotating interaction regions (CIRs). Here we investigate fluxes of energetic particles that showed no relationship to ClRs. From the investigation of plasma and magnetic held data it is found that all of the transient high latitude particle events were associated with the passage of a coronal mass ejection (CME) over Ulysses. Enhancements in particle fluxes several days prior to the arrival of a CME, but with a significant time delay with respect to the estimated CME-onset at the Sun, were most probably associated with interplanetary shocks driven by fast CMEs. These particle events exhibit unusually high rho/alpha-ratios and are not observed for CMEs not driving a shock. However, not all CMEs that passed Ulysses were associated with a particle event. We find evidence that at high solar latitudes, solar flare particles cannot reach Ulysses on open magnetic field lines, but can reach the spacecraft if particles are injected into magnetic flux-ropes (CMEs) at the Sun. These findings are supported by soft X-ray observations from the Japanese Yohkoh-satellite.

Bothmer, V.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Coronal Magnetic Field Profiles from Shock-CME Standoff Distances

Coronagraphs observe coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and driven shocks in white light images.From these observations the shocks speed and the shocks standoff distance from the CMEs leading edge can be derived. Using these quantities, theoretical relationships between the shocks Alfvenic Mach number MA and standoff distance, and empirical radial profiles for the solar wind velocity and number density, the radial magnetic field profile upstream of the shock can be calculated. These profiles cannot be measured directly. We test the accuracy of this method for estimating the radial magnetic field profile upstream of the shock by simulating a sample CME that occurred on 29 November 2013 using the three-dimensional (3-D) magnetohydrodynamic Block-Adaptive-Tree-Solar wind-Roe-Upwind-Scheme code, retrieving shock-CME standoff distances from the simulation, and comparing the estimated and simulated radial magnetic field profiles. We find good agreement between the two profiles (within +/-30%) between 1.8 and 10R.Our simulations confirm that a linear relationship exists between the standoff distance and the inverse compression ratio at the shock. We also find very good agreement between the empirical and simulated radial profiles of the number density and speed of the solar wind and inner corona.

Schmidt, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The sun and the heliosphere in three dimensions; Proceedings of the Nineteenth ESLAB Symposium, Les Diablerets, Switzerland, June 4-6, 1985

Papers are presented on coronal magnetic fields, the heliospheric energy source, stereoscopic measurement of hard solar X-rays, and OVI diagnostics of solar-wind generation. Also considered are coronal transients at high heliospheric latitudes, the solar-cycle dependence of coronal mass ejections, comets and three-dimensional wind structure, and interplanetary scintillation observations of the solar wind at high latitudes. Other topics include three-dimensional coronal and heliospheric structure from radio observations, multispacecraft observations of Type III radio bursts, the acceleration of energetic particles at solar-wind shocks, and a spatially confined, long-lived stream of solar particles.

Marsden, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Solar Type II Radio Bursts and IP Type II Events

We have examined radio data from the WAVES experiment on the Wind spacecraft in conjunction with ground-based data in order to investigate the relationship between the shocks responsible for metric type II radio bursts and the shocks in front of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The bow shocks of fast, large CMEs are strong interplanetary (IP) shocks, and the associated radio emissions often consist of single broad bands starting below approx. 4 MHz; such emissions were previously called IP type II events. In contrast, metric type II bursts are usually narrowbanded and display two harmonically related bands. In addition to displaying complete dynamic spectra for a number of events, we also analyze the 135 WAVES 1 - 14 MHz slow-drift time periods in 2001-2003. We find that most of the periods contain multiple phenomena, which we divide into three groups: metric type II extensions, IP type II events, and blobs and bands. About half of the WAVES listings include probable extensions of metric type II radio bursts, but in more than half of these events, there were also other slow-drift features. In the 3 yr study period, there were 31 IP type II events; these were associated with the very fastest CMEs. The most common form of activity in the WAVES events, blobs and bands in the frequency range between 1 and 8 MHz, fall below an envelope consistent with the early signatures of an IP type II event. However, most of this activity lasts only a few tens of minutes, whereas IP type II events last for many hours. In this study we find many examples in the radio data of two shock-like phenomena with different characteristics that occur simultaneously in the metric and decametric/hectometric bands, and no clear example of a metric type II burst that extends continuously down in frequency to become an IP type II event. The simplest interpretation is that metric type II bursts, unlike IP type II events, are not caused by shocks driven in front of CMEs.

Cane, H. V.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Ulysses solar wind plasma observations during the declining phase of solar cycle 22

Since launch in October 1990, the Ulysses mission has included an in-ecliptic cruise enroute to Jupiter encounter in February 1992 and a post-Jupiter transit through a wide range of southerly latitudes and heliocentric distances. Here we present results from the solar wind plasma experiment through June 14, 1994, at which time Ulysses was at -68.2 deg heliographic latitude. During the ecliptic phase of the mission, occurring just after solar maximum, the spacecraft encountered an irregular pattern of solar wind speed and sporadic coronal mass ejections, with mass ejections most prevalent during March 1991. Irregular, small-amplitude solar wind streams prevailed until mid-1992, after which Ulysses encountered a recurrent very high-speed stream from an equatorward extension of the South polar coronal hole. Encounters with the high-density, low-speed plasma from the coronal streamer belt ceased as Ulysses moved to increasing southerly latitudes in 1993. Many forward and reverse shocks associated with corotating interaction regions have been encountered; these shocks all had observable electron foreshocks. The shocks became less prevalent with increasing latitude, with the forward shocks disappearing first because of the tilted streamer belt and the resulting meridional shock propagation. After Ulysses passed -35 deg in July 1993 the spacecraft encountered only high-speed wind, with a speed range of 700-800 km/s and a density, scaled to 1 AU, averaging 3/cu cm. Latitudinal gradients in solar wind fluid parameters generally support previous findings, with the gradient in wind speed offset by a gradient in density such that mass momentum flux vary relatively little.

Phillips, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Synoptic observations of coronal transients and their interplanetary consequences

Conclusions reached to date after 5 yr of pooled, extensive monitoring of the solar coronal mass ejection (CME) at the Hawaiian High Altitude Observatory, Skylab and with the SMM are reported. Additional white light data have been gathered with the OSO-7 and P78-1 spacecraft. CME provides 5 percent of the solar wind mass flux and was the dominant driving force in interplanetary shocks in the last solar maximum phase. Both bubble and cloud shapes have been observed in CME events, which are nearly ubiquitous in proton events. Each of the CME shapes possesses distinctive dynamical characteristics. Finally, steady emissions of soft X-rays have been identified as precursors to CMEs, which display some latitudinal confinement.

Michels, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Evolution of Interplanetary Shocks and their CME Drivers

Shock-driving coronal mass ejections (CMEs) constitute the most energetic phenomena in the heliosphere. The shocks can be identified in a number of ways based on remote-sensing and in situ observations. Type II radio bursts are the earliest indicators of shocks that accelerate electrons to energies up to -10 keV. Solar energetic particle (SEP) events are always accompanied by long wavelength type II bursts indicating that the same shock accelerates ions and electrons. A recent investigation involving a large number of interplanetary (IP) shocks revealed that about 35% of them do not produce type II bursts (radio quiet, RQ) or SEPs. Comparison of the RQ shocks with the radio loud (RL) ones revealed some interesting results such as: (1) the lack of evidence for blast waves,(2) energetic particle enhancement in the shock front in -20% of RQ shocks, and (3) determination of the difference between the RQ and RL shocks in terms of the different kinematic properties of the associated CMEs. On the other hand the shock properties measured at I AU are not too different for the RQ and RL cases. This can be attributed to the interaction with the IP medium, which seems to erase the difference. Implications of this evolution for the geoeffectiveness is also discussed.

Gopalswamy, Natchimuthuk↗
NASA NTRS1980

Mechanical energy output of the 5 September 1973 flare

The mechanical energy flux of observed macroscopic mass plasma motions in the solar flare of Sept. 5, 1973, is estimated. Consideration is given to the cool eruptive material in the eruptive filament and large surge as revealed by H alpha observations, the moving emission front seen in Ca II as well as H alpha, the piston-driven shock and mass ejection coronal transient observed in radio spectra and flare core motions, and mechanical energy estimates of 5.6 x 10 to the 29th to 8.9 x 10 to the 30th, 9.0 x 10 to the 29th, 2 x 10 to the 30th (thermal) and 10 to the 31st (magnetic), and 9 x 10 to the 24th erg are obtained, respectively, in agreement with previous estimates. It is concluded that the mechanical energy of large-scale mass motions dominates the radiative output of the flare by more than two orders of magnitude, and that a significant portion of the mechanical energy is in the form of magnetic flux delivered to interplanetary space.

Webb, D. F.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Solar and Interplanetary Sources of Major Geomagnetic Storms (Dst less than or equal to -100 nT) During 1996 - 2005

We present the results of an investigation of the sequence of events from the Sun to the Earth that ultimately led to the 88 major geomagnetic storms (defined by minimum Dst less than or equal to -100 nT) that occurred during 1996 - 2005. The results are achieved through cooperative efforts that originated at the Living with a Star (LWS) Coordinated Data- Analysis Workshop (CDAW) held at George Mason University in March 2005. Based on careful examination of the complete array of solar and in-situ solar wind observations, we have identified and characterized, for each major geomagnetic storm, the overall solar-interplanetary (solar-IP) source type, the time, velocity and angular width of the source coronal mass ejection (CME), the type and heliographic location of the solar source region, the structure of the transient solar wind flow with the storm-driving component specified, the arrival time of shock/disturbance, and the start and ending times of the corresponding IP CME (ICME). The storm-driving component, which possesses a prolonged and enhanced southward magnetic field (B(sub s)) may be an ICME, the sheath of shocked plasma (SH) upstream of an ICME, a corotating interaction region (CIR), or a combination of these structures. We classify the Solar-IP sources into three broad types: (1) S-type, in which the storm is associated with a single ICME and a single CME at the Sun; (2) M-type, in which the storm is associated with a complex solar wind flow produced by multiple interacting ICMEs arising from multiple halo CMEs launched from the Sun in a short period; (3) C-type, in which the storm is associated with a CIR formed at the leading edge of a high speed stream originating from a solar coronal hole (CH). For the 88 major storms, the S-type, M-type and C-type events number 53 (60%): 24 (27%) and 11 (13%), respectively. For the 85 events for which the surface source regions could be investigated, 54 (63%) of the storms originated in solar active regions, 10 (12%) in quiet Sun regions associated with quiescent filaments or filament channels, and 11 (13%) were associated with coronal holes. Remarkably, 10 (12%) CME-driven events showed no sign of eruptive features on the surface (e.g., no flare, no coronal dimming, and no loop arcade, etc), even though all the available solar observation in a suitable time period were carefully examined. Thus, while it is generally true that a major geomagnetic storm is more likely to be driven by a front-side fast halo CME associated with a major flare, our study indicates a broad distribution of source properties. The implications of the results for space weather forecasting are briefly discussed.

Zhang, J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Two classes of solar energetic particle events associated with impulsive and long duration soft X-ray flares

Solar energetic particle events observed in space have different properties depending on the class of associated flare. Impulsive flares, which occur low in the corona in regions of high energy density, are associated with particle events which are deficient in protons. These events are rarely associated with coronal mass ejections and interplanetary shocks. The vast majority of large, high energy proton events are associated with long duration flares, many of which are also associated with fast coronal mass ejections and strong interplanetary shocks. Such flare events originate relatively high in the corona.

Cane, H. V.↗
NASA NTRS1986

On the association of magnetic clouds with disappearing filaments

Evidence is presented that an interplanetary magnetic cloud preceding an interaction region, observed at earth on January 24, 1974, is associated with the eruptive filament of disparition brusque (DB) near central meridian on January 18. The DB was also associated with a long-decay soft X ray transient and a long-duration gradual-rise-and-fall radio burst. To assess whether magnetic clouds are generally associated with DBs, results from statistical testing of the relation of 33 magnetic clouds (and 33 control samples without magnetic clouds) to disappearing filaments near central meridian (approximately less than 45 deg central meridian distance) are presented. The hypothesis that magnetic cloud are the 1-AU counterparts of either eruptive filaments or the coronal mass ejections which probably accompany them is supported. The major result is that disappearing filaments occur more frequently on the days when magnetic clouds are launched than on control days, a result obtained with greater than 99 pct confidence. There is a suggestion that clouds following shocks, probably launched at times of solar flares, are not as strongly associated with disappearing filaments as are clouds launched less violently.

Wilson, R. M.↗