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At least 199 records · Page 11
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NASA NTRS1985

Acceleration of interplanetary solar electrons in the 1982 August 14 flare

The solar flare on August 14, 1982 (about 0507 UT) produced hard X-rays, gamma-rays, and an electron-rich interplanetary particle event. Because of its location (N11, W61), the flare site was magnetically well connected to the ISEE 3 spacecraft. The ISEE 3 observations have provided a detailed time history of 15 keV-1.9 MeV photon emission from the flare and the relativistic (greater than 3 MeV) solar electrons in interplanetary space. These observations indicate that a significant fraction of the relativistic electrons escaping from the sun were accelerated during the impulsive phase simultaneously with the energetic electrons producing the hard X-ray and gamma-ray continuum at the sun.

Kane, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Latitude dependence of co-rotating shock acceleration

Energetic particle observations in the outer heliosphere (approx 12 A. U.) by the LECP instruments on the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft are discussed that show a definite latitude dependence of the number and intensity of particle enhancements produced by corotating interplanetary regions during an interval when no solar energetic particle events were observed. The particle enhancements are fewer in number and less intense at higher (approx 20 deg.) heliolatitudes. However, the similar spectral shapes of the accelerated particles at the two spacecraft indicate that the acceleration process is the same at the two latitudes, but less intense at the higher latitude.

Gold, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Some contributions to knowledge of the magnetospheric plasma by ISEE investigators

The ISEE project has made substantial contributions to the knowledge of the magnetosphere during the period of the IMS, especially in the discipline of Space Plasma Physics. Results obtained during approximately the first two years of the operation of ISEE-1 and -2, and touches on relevant results of ISEE-3 are reviewed. The ability to control the separation between ISEE-1 and -2, which are in nearly identical orbits, has permitted study of the motion and structure of the bow shock and magnetopause, the boundary layers, and the plasma sheet. Much evidence was obtained favoring the existence of reconnection and its relevance to the transfer of magnetic flux from the frontside to the rear of the magnetosphere, although not everyone agrees that it is the only important process. The presence of both reflected and accelerated particles was shown to lead to the development of a foreshock region between the bow shock and the interplanetary magnetic field line tangential to it.

Ogilvie, K. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Some contributions to knowledge of the magnetospheric plasma by ISEE-1 investigators

The ability to control the separation between ISEE-1 and 2 permitted study of the motion and structure of the bow shock and magnetopause, the boundary layers, and the plasma sheet. Evidence favoring the existence of reconnection and its relevance to the transfer of magnetic flux from the frontside to the rear of the magnetosphere, was obtained. The presence of reflected and accelerated particles is shown to lead to the development of a foreshock region between the bow shock and the interplanetary magnetic field line tangential to it. Precursors to interplanetary shocks are also observed. Inside the magnetosphere, ISEE contributed to knowledge of plasma waves, and, augmenting work with GEOS, to studies of plasma composition. In the near tail, the boundary layer of the plasma sheet disclosed interesting phenomena.

Ogilive, K. W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Source energy spectra from demodulation of solar particle data by interplanetary and coronal transport

The data on source energy spectra of solar cosmic rays (SCR), i.e. the data on the spectrum form and on the absolute SCR are of interest for three reasons: (1) the SCR contain the energy comparable to the total energy of electromagnetic flare radiation (less than or equal to 10 to the 32nd power ergs); (2) the source spectrum form indicates a possible acceleration mechanism (or mechanism); and (3) the accelerated particles are efficiently involved in nuclear electromagnetic and plasma processes in the solar atmosphere. Therefore, the data on SCR source spectra are necessary for a theoretical description of the processes mentioned and for the formulation of the consistent flare model. Below it is attempted to sound solar particle sources by means of SCR energy spectrum obtained near the Sun, at the level of the roots of the interplanetary field lines in the upper solar corona. Data from approx. 60 solar proton events (SPE) between 1956-1981. These data were obtained mainly by the interplanetary demodulation of observed fluxes near the Earth. Further, a model of coronal azimuthal transport is used to demodulate those spectra, and to obtain the source energy spectra.

Perez-Peraza, J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Electric currents and voltage drops along auroral field lines

An assessment is presented of the current state of knowledge concerning Birkeland currents and the parallel electric field, with discussions focusing on the Birkeland primary region 1 sheets, the region 2 sheets which parallel them and appear to close in the partial ring current, the cusp currents (which may be correlated with the interplanetary B(y) component), and the Harang filament. The energy required by the parallel electric field and the associated particle acceleration processes appears to be derived from the Birkeland currents, for which evidence is adduced from particles, inverted V spectra, rising ion beams and expanded loss cones. Conics may on the other hand signify acceleration by electrostatic ion cyclotron waves associated with beams accelerated by the parallel electric field.

Stern, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Neutron and gamma-ray signatures for particle acceleration in solar flares

The production of neutrons, 4 to 7 MeW nuclear gamma rays, positrons and pions resulting from the interaction of flare accelerated particles with the solar atmosphere was calculated. For the energy spectra of these particles the Bessel function predicted by stochastic acceleration and power laws which could result from acceleration at large-scale planar shocks was used, with the thick-target model. It is assumed that in the interaction region the accelerated particles are isotropic. The neutron-to-2.223 MeV photon conversion factors for various flare locations on the Sun are derived by averaging conversion factors over these spectra. Comparing calculations with data confirms that for most gamma-ray flares the bulk of the accelerated particles remain trapped at the Sun and that these particles have spectra similar to the spectra of flare particles observed in interplanetary space.

Ramaty, R.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Shock-Driving CMEs Near the Sun, in the Interplanetary Medium, and Near Earth

The excellent correspondence between type II radio bursts and solar energetic particles (SEPs) made it clear that the same shock accelerates ions and electrons. A recent investigation involving a large number of I shocks revealed that about 35% of IP shocks do not produce type II bursts (radio quiet) or SEPs. Comparing the RQ shocks with the radio loud (RL) ones revealed some interesting results, which will be summarized in this poster. (1) There is no evidence for blast waves. (2) Even a small fraction (20%) of RQ shocks is associated with ion enhancements at the shock when the shock passes the spacecraft. (3) The primary difference between the RQ and RL shocks can be traced to the different kinematic properties of the associated CMEs, although the shock properties measured at 1 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. More details can be found in Astrophysical Journal 710, 1111, 2010 (http://adsabs.harvard.edu/absZ2009arXivO9l2.4719G).

Gopalswamy, N.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Energetic particles of the outer regions of planetary magnetospheres

High energy particles, with energies above those attainable by adiabatic or steady-state electric field acceleration, have been observed in and around the outer regions of planetary magnetospheres. Acceleration by large amplitude sporadic cross-tail electric fields over an order of magnitude greater than steady-state convection fields is proposed as a source of these particles. It is suggested that such explosive electric fields will occur intermittently in the vicinity of the tail neutral line in the expansive phase of substorms. Laboratory and satellite evidence are used to estimate this electric potential for substorms at earth; values of 500 kilovolts to 2 megavolts are calculated, in agreement with particle observations. It is further suggested that these particles, which have been accelerated in the night side magnetosphere, drift to the dayside on closed field lines, and under certain interplanetary conditions can escape to regions upstream of the bow shock.

Tsurutani, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Energetic protons associated with interplanetary active regions 1-5 AU from the sun

Pioneer 11 has yielded data on approximately 100 energetic proton events at heliocentric distances between 1 and 2 AU. Measurements of absolute intensities, anisotropies, and crude energy spectra are studied in connection with interplanetary active regions (IAR's). It is found that in close vicinity to IAR's, the number of events observed per unit time interval is 10 times greater than in other areas of interplanetary space, and that the frequency of events has a maximum at plus or minus 5 hours of the time IAR edges are crossed. It is also noted that events in IAR vicinity have greater particle densities, softer energy spectra, and smaller time widths than other events. For many events associated with IAR's, particle anisotropies correspond to the net flow of particles along the interplanetary magnetic field toward the sun. This suggests that a mechanism in MHD shocks is responsible for local acceleration in the interplanetary medium.

Pesses, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Abundances of He and CNO ions in the ion pulses observed in the earth's magnetospheric environment

The abundance of He and CNO ions in the ion pulses which are frequently observed in the earth's magnetosheath, magnetotail, and near-by interplanetary space was analyzed and found to be highly variable. Based on the assumption that these ions are solar wind particles accelerated in the magnetospheric environment to the observed energies, it is suggested that this variability reflects the inhomogeneity of the solar atmosphere and/or the physical conditions under which the solar wind particles were energized.

Fan, C. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Radially propagating shock waves in the outer heliosphere - The evidence from Pioneer 10 energetic particle and plasma observations

At heliocentric distances between 14 and 22 AU, some 14 increases in the flux of 1 MeV protons have been identified over a 3 yr period by the NASA Goddard/University of New Hampshire cosmic-ray experiment on Pioneer 10. These increases appear to be associated with large solar flares. Combining the particle data with the Pioneer 10 plasma observations from the NASA/Ames plasma analyzer reveals that the particle increases are produced by radially propagating shock waves generated by the solar events. While the characteristics of these particle events in the distant heliosphere appear to differ greatly from those observed at 1 AU, they represent the evolution expected as the interplanetary magnetic field becomes almost azimuthal. These long-lived shocks provide a valuable in situ laboratory for directly studying particle acceleration under a variety of conditions. They may also represent a significant factor in producing the long-term modulation of galactic cosmic rays.

Mcdonald, F. B.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The interaction of quasiperpendicular shock waves in a collisionless plasma

The interaction between collisionless shocks is examined from a kinetic viewpoint using computer simulations of shock collisions spanning the range of ambient plasma and shock parameters typical of the interplanetary medium. It is found that the interaction between two subcritical, perpendicular shocks is largely fluidlike with no evidence for accelerated particles. The electromagnetic fields associated with each shock, but not the plasmas, pass through each other during the collision. This interaction is due to self-consistently generated electric fields which adjust to the value needed to bring to rest the two incoming streams. The interaction between two supercritical perpendicular collisionless shocks is similar to the subcritical case, in that the electromagnetic fields associated with each shock are transmitted whereas particles are not. However, the interaction is also highly dynamic with substantial acceleration of ions. Increasing the Mach number gives rise to an increasing number of energetic particles.

Cargill, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Solar energetic particles below 10 MeV

The information on solar acceleration and coronal propagation contained in low energy solar particle observations must be extracted from the effects of propagation in a dynamic interplanetary medium and the proximity of the earth's magnetosphere. The resulting separation reveals long-lived coronal injection and strong spatial ordering of coronal propagation.

Roelof, E. C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Ionization states of heavy elements observed in the 1974 May 14-15 anomalous solar particle event

The charge states of heavy ions accelerated in the (3)He-Fe rich solar particle event of 1974 May 14-15 are determined using data from the Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-8. In addition to Fe(+11,12) both 0(+5) and Fe(+16,17,18) are also present suggesting variations in coronal temperatures over a range from approximately 400,000 to 5,000,000 K. The presence of 0(+5) and Fe(+16-18) may be explained by a resonant plasma heating mechanism proposed to account for the enhancements of (3)He and Fe.

Ma Sung, L. S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Observations of Jovian accelerated particles both inside and outside the Jovian magnetosphere - Results from the Goddard-U. of New Hampshire experiment on Pioneer 10

This paper discusses measurements of the energetic-particle population inside Jupiter's magnetosphere as well as observations of energetic particles in interplanetary space that have escaped from that magnetosphere. The discussion is based on Pioneer 10 data obtained when the spacecraft was outside the bow shock but within about 1 AU of the planet and on electron data obtained near earth by various IMP spacecraft. Pioneer 10 particle measurements in the Jovian magnetosphere are reviewed, the differential proton and electron energy spectra are described, and it is suggested that very little particle acceleration occurs in the outer magnetosphere. Additional data are examined in regard to Jovian alpha particles, proton and electron angular distributions, protons in the inner magnetosphere, effects of Io on the proton flux, electron acceleration outside the bow shock, and observations of Jovian electrons near earth. All these data are shown to support the conclusion that most, if not all, quiet-time increases in low-energy electron fluxes near earth are of Jovian origin.

Trainor, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Statistical analysis of diffuse ion events upstream of the Earth's bow shock

A statistical study of diffuse energetic ion events and their related waves upstream of the Earth's bow shock was performed using data from the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers/Ion Release Module (AMPTE/IRM) satellite over two 5-month periods in 1984 and 1985. The data set was used to test the assumption in the self-consistent model of the upstream wave and particle populations by Lee (1982) that the particle acceleration through hydromagnetic waves and the wave generation are directly coupled. The comparison between the observed wave power and the wave power predicted on the observed energetic particle energy density and solar wind parameters results in a high correlation coefficient of about 0.89. The intensity of diffuse ions falls off approximately exponentially with the distance upstream from the bow shock parallel to the magnetic field with e-folding distances which vary from approximately 3.3 R(sub E) to approximately 11.7 R(sub E) over the energy range from 10 keV/e to 67.3 keV/e for both protons and alpha particles. After normalizing the upstream particle densities to zero bow shock distance by using these exponential variations, a good correlation (0.7) of the density of the diffuse ions with the solar wind density was found. This supports the suggestion that the solar wind is the source of the diffuse ions. Furthermore, the spectral slope of the diffuse ions correlates well with the solar wind velocity component in the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field (0.68 and 0.66 for protons and alpha particles) which concurs with the notion that the solar wind plays an important role in the acceleration of the upstream particles.

Trattner, K. J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Observations related to the acceleration, injection, and interplanetary propagation of energetic protons during the solar cosmic ray event on February 16, 1984

This paper presents an analysis of data collected by the worldwide network of neutron monitors and from IMP-8 cosmic-ray telescopes, as well as by particle detectors on the GOES 5 and 6 and ICE satellites, on the solar cosmic ray event that took place on February 16, 1984. Using these data, the intensity-time (IT) profiles, the anisotropy-time profiles, the energy spectra, and the pitch angle distributions of the solar protons near earth were deduced. It was found that the solar protons propagated essentially scatter-free from the sun to the earth. The solar protons had easy access to the IMF lines to earth; the time from the onset to maximum intensity and the shape of the IT profiles at earth as a function of energy could be explained by the diffusion of the flare protons near the acceleration region. The energy spectrum of the solar flare protons injected into the undisturbed IMF at the sun was changing with time in both amplitude and shape. The observations suggest a shock acceleration process.

Debrunner, H.↗