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At least 415 records · Page 23

On the sources of solar energetic particles

We have examined the time histories of energetic (greater than 1 MeV) particles as detected by instruments in the earth's neighborhood over an 18 year period commencing mid-1967. The majority (greater than 75 percent) of the events extending to proton energies above 20 MeV have their origins in a flare event which includes H-alpha emission, soft x rays, and metric radio bursts of Type 2 and/or Type 4. We have assembled a list of 241 events for which the sources are thus well identified. Two further particle increases have been associated with nonflare events. Of the 82 events originating in regions to the east of central meridian, the sources of 68 (83 percent) were sufficiently energetic that they also generated interplanetary shocks detected at earth. We suggest that shocks are responsible for particles being detectable from source regions not magnetically connected to earth.

Cane, H. V↗

SPHINX: A Generalized Tool for Solar Energetic Particle Model Validation

The Integrated Solar Energetic Proton Alert/Warning (ISEP) project was established to aid in the transition of SEP models from the research realm to operational use. This project is a collaboration between the NASA Community Coordinated Model Center (CCMC), the NASA Moon to Mars Space Weather Analysis Office (M2M) and the NASA Space Radiation Analysis Group (SRAG). Through ISEP, the SEP Scoreboards (Intensity, Probability, and All Clear) were developed to visualize real time forecasts from SEP models for use in SRAG operations. To accomplish this, SRAG, CCMC, and M2M work closely with modelers on model development, CCMC works on Scoreboard implementation, and M2M provides human-in-the-loop space weather analysis and ensures that models run in real time.

space weather↗

Radio tracking of solar energetic particles through interplanetary space.

Satellite observations of traveling solar radio bursts provide information about the propagation of energetic solar particles through interplanetary space. This information leads to data on the solar wind density and gross magnetic field configuration over distances of 1 AU. By placing a radio telescope well above the ionosphere it is possible to observe the radio emission down to frequencies that correspond to emission at distances of the order of 1 AU. The observations reported provide the first 'radio picture' over 1 AU of the spiral magnetic field configuration in interplanetary space.

Fainberg, J.↗

Possible leakage of energetic particles from the magnetosphere into the upstream region on June 7, 1985

Prognoz 10 observed a series of energetic ion (E not less than 10 KeV) and electron (E not less than 30 KeV) bursts whilst upstream of the dusk bow shock from 2000-2200 UT on June 7, 1985. The particles streamed away from the bow shock along the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) during periods when the IMF connected the spacecraft to the bow shock/magnetosphere. Both ions and electrons were observed when the IMF connected the spacecraft to the subsolar bow shock, but only ions were observed when the IMF connected the spacecraft to the dusk bow shock. Simultaneous ground and magnetospheric observations are presented which indicate the onset of geomagnetic activity and an increase in magnetospheric energetic particle flux levels just prior to the series of particle bursts observed by Prognoz 10 upstream of the bow shock. The combined observations are consistent with a magnetospheric source for these upstream particle events.

Kudela, K.↗

Subcritical and supercritical interplanetary shocks - Magnetic field and energetic particle observations

A study of 34 forward interplanetary shocks observed by ISEE 3 during 1978 and 1979 has been conducted. Magnetic field and high-energy particle data have been used, and for each shock the first critical Mach number has been determined. The first surprising result is that the majority of the observed shocks appear to be supercritical, and consistent with their supercritical character, many shocks have a foot and/or an overshoot in the magnetic field structure. Large-amplitude low-frequency waves (period of about 20 s in the spacecraft frame) are commonly observed upstream of all supercritical shocks (except for a few quasi-perpendicular shocks) and also upstream of the few subcritical shocks. Intense particle events are frequently observed at many shocks: spikes at quasi-perpendicular shocks and energetic storm particle events associated with quasi-parallel shocks can be comparably intense. The correlation of the high-energy particle peak flux with various shock parameters is in agreement with the acceleration mechanisms proposed by previous studies.

Bavassano-Cattaneo, M. B.↗

The magnetosphere of Neptune - Hot plasmas and energetic particles

An overview is presented of the hot plasmas and energetic (not less than 20 keV) particles observed in the vicinity of Neptune by the Low Energy Charged Particle (LECP) experiment aboard the Voyager 2 spacecraft. The LECP findings are presented on the shock, the magnetosheath, the magnetopause, and the cusp of the Neptune's magnetosphere; the middle magnetosphere; the inner magnetosphere and material interactions; the magnetotail and the substorms; and the characteristics of Triton's plasma. It is shown that, in sharp contrast to the Uranian magnetotail, the Neptunian magnetotail shows no evidence of substorm processes.

Mauk, B. H.↗

The effects of the geosynchronous energetic particle radiation environment on spacecraft charging phenomena

The energetic electron environment at the geosynchronous orbit is responsible for a variety of adverse charging effects on spacecraft components. The most serious of these is the degradation and failure of a complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) electronic components as a result of internal charge-buildup induced by the energetic electrons. Efforts to accurately determine the expected lifetime of these components in this orbit are hampered by the lack of detailed knowledge of the electron spectrum and intensity, particularly of the more penetrating energies greater than 1.5 MeV. This problem is illustrated through the calculation of the dose received by a CMOS device from the energetic electrons and associated bremsstrahlung as a function of aluminum shielding thickness using the NASA AE-6 and the Aerospace measured electron environments. Two computational codes which were found to be in good agreement were used to perform the calculations. For a given shielding thickness the dose received with the two radiation environments differ by as much as a factor of seven with a corresponding variation in lifetime of the CMOS.

Reagan, J. B.↗

A Rapid Sequence of Solar Energetic Particle Events Associated with a Series of Extreme-ultraviolet Jets: Solar Orbiter, STEREO-A, and Near-Earth Spacecraft Observations

A series of solar energetic electron (SEE) events was observed from 2022 November 9 to November 15 by Solar Orbiter, STEREO-A, and near-Earth spacecraft. At least 32 SEE intensity enhancements at energies >10 keV were clearly distinguishable in Solar Orbiter particle data, with 13 of them occurring on November 11. Several of these events were accompanied by 10 MeV proton and 2MeV nucleon−1 heavy-ion intensity enhancements. By combining remote-sensing and in situ data from the three viewpoints (Solar Orbiter and STEREO-A were ∼20° and ∼15° east of Earth, respectively), we determine that the origin of this rapid succession of events was a series of brightenings and jetlike eruptions detected in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) observations from the vicinity of two active regions. We find a close association between these EUV phenomena, the occurrence of hard X-ray flares, type III radio bursts, and the release of SEEs. For the most intense events, usually associated with extended EUV jets, the distance between the site of these solar eruptions and the estimated magnetic connectivity regions of each spacecraft with the Sun did not prevent the arrival of electrons at the three locations. The capability of jets to drive coronal fronts does not necessarily imply the observation of an SEE event. Two peculiar SEE events on November 9 and 14, observed only at electron energies 50 keV but rich in 1MeV nucleon−1 heavy ions, originated from slow-rising confined EUV emissions, for which the process resulting in energetic particle release to interplanetary space is unclear.

D Lario↗

Two-Dimensional Interdigitated Pixel Detector for Energetic Particle Spectrometers

This paper describes a type of cosmic ray detector suitable for the construction of a small, low power space-based instrument to detect the energy and isotope of energetic nuclei, such as those produced by solar flares. The detector is similar to previous types of silicon PIN detectors where the fully depleted body of the wafer comprises intrinsic region of the PIN structure. The novel aspect of this detector is that the one surface is divided into a two-dimensional array of pixels, and that the collected holes are divided between a row and a column collector in each pixel, yielding both dimensions of position information from this side of the detector.

cosmic↗

Elemental composition of solar energetic particles in 1977 and 1978

The elemental composition of energetic nuclei from seven major solar flare events were measured wit the cosmic ray detector systems aboard the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft. The energetic nuclei abundances differ significantly from those of photospheric material. They are enhanced relative to the photonsphere by a factor which is the ratio of abundance of an energetic nuclei species (relative to oxygen) over the corresponding abundance of photospheric material. This factor is common to all events and has a nonmonochromatic characteristic dependence on nuclear charge. This factor is roughly ordered by first ionization potential into two groups of elements, metallics and volatiles.

Cook, W. R.↗

Association between magnetic field fluctuations and energetic particle bursts in the earth's magnetotail

The association between energetic protons (0.29-0.50 MeV) and simultaneous local fluctuations of magnetic field at 35 to 45 earth radii in the magnetotail is examined statistically with data from APL/JHU particle telescopes aboard IMP 7 and IMP 8. About four satellite years of 5.5 min averaged measurements are used in this study. In addition to confirming that the level of magnetic field fluctuations generally increases with the presence of energetic protons and their streaming anisotropy, it is found that increases in occurrence frequency of streaming of energetic protons are ordered far better by magnetic field fluctuations than by proximity to the neutral sheet. However, the presence of large magnetic field fluctuations (delta B greater than 5 nT or delta B/B greater than 50%) is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for the detection of large streaming in energetic protons.

Lui, A. T. Y.↗

Are Solar Energetic Particle Events and Type II Bursts Associated with Fast and Narrow Coronal Mass Ejections?

Gradual solar energetic ( E>10 MeV ) particle (SEP) events and metric through kilometric wavelength type II radio bursts are usually associated with shocks driven by fast ( V > 900 kms-1 ) and wide ( W>60deg ) coronal mass ejections (FW CMEs). This criterion was established empirically by several studies from solar cycle 23. The characteristic Alfven speed in the corona, which ranges over 500-1500 kms-1 at heights > 2 Ro, provides the minimum V requirement for a CME to drive a shock, but the general absence of SEP events or type II bursts with fast and narrow ( W<60deg ) CMEs has not been explained. We review and confirm the earlier studies with a more comprehensive comparison of SEP events and type II bursts with fast and narrow (FN) CMEs. We offer an explanation for the lack of SEP event and type II burst associations with FN CMEs in terms of recent heuristic arguments and modeling that show that the response of a magnetized plasma to the propagation of a CME depends on the CME geometry as well as on its speed. A clear distinction is made between a projectile that propagates through the medium to produce a bow shock, and a 3D piston that everywhere accumulates material to produce a broad shock and sheath. The bow shock is unfavorable for producing SEP events and type II bursts, but the 60 deg cut-off is not explained.

Kahler, S.W.↗

Observations of solar energetic particles at a synchronous orbit

The Space Environment Monitors (SEM) on board the Japanese geostationary meteorological satellites (GMS-1 and GMS-2) observed energetic protons, alpha particles and electrons continuously for February 1978 to September 1984. The satellites were at 6.6 Earth radii above 140 deg E equator.

Takenaka, T.↗