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Astrophysics and Astronomy

Florida Institute of Technology

Sun: Particle Emission

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Effects Of Coronal Magnetic Field Structures On The Transport Of Solar Energetic Particles, Lulu Zhao, Ming Zhang Jun 2018

Effects Of Coronal Magnetic Field Structures On The Transport Of Solar Energetic Particles, Lulu Zhao, Ming Zhang

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

This Letter presents a model calculation of solar energetic particle (SEP) transport to test the sensitivity of the distribution of escaped SEPs in interplanetary space and dependence upon the details of the magnetic field structure in the corona. It is applied to a circumsolar event on 2011 November 3, in which SEPs are observed promptly after the solar event eruption by three spacecraft (the twin Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatories (STEREO-A and STEREO-B) and ACE) separated by more than 100° in longitude from each other. The corona magnetic field reconstructed from photosphseric field measurements using the PFSS method changes substantially before …


Double Power Laws In The Event-Integrated Solar Energetic Particle Spectrum, Lulu Zhao, Ming Zhang, Hamid K. Rassoul Apr 2016

Double Power Laws In The Event-Integrated Solar Energetic Particle Spectrum, Lulu Zhao, Ming Zhang, Hamid K. Rassoul

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

A double power law or a power law with exponential rollover at a few to tens of MeV nucleon−1 of the eventintegrated differential spectra has been reported in many solar energetic particle (SEP) events. The rollover energies per nucleon of different elements correlate with a particleʼs charge-to-mass ratio (Q/A). The probable causes are suggested as residing in shock finite lifetimes, shock finite sizes, shock geometry, and an adiabatic cooling effect. In this work, we conduct a numerical simulation to investigate a particleʼs transport process in the inner heliosphere. We solve the focused transport equation using a time-backward Markov stochastic approach. …


A Numerical Simulation Of Solar Energetic Particle Dropouts During Impulsive Events, Yi Wáng, Gang Qin, Ming Zhang, Silvia Dalla Jul 2014

A Numerical Simulation Of Solar Energetic Particle Dropouts During Impulsive Events, Yi Wáng, Gang Qin, Ming Zhang, Silvia Dalla

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

This paper investigates the conditions for producing rapid variations of solar energetic particle (SEP) intensity commonly known as "dropouts." In particular, we use numerical model simulations based on solving the focused transport equation in the three-dimensional Parker interplanetary magnetic field to put constraints on the properties of particle transport coefficients in both directions perpendicular and parallel to the magnetic field. Our calculations of the temporal intensity profile of 0.5 and 5 MeV protons at the Earth show that the perpendicular diffusion must be small while the parallel mean free path is long in order to reproduce the phenomenon of SEP …


Transport Of Solar Energetic Particles Accelerated By Icme Shocks: Reproducing The Reservoir Phenomenon, Gang Qin, Y Wang, Ming Zhang, Silvia Dalla Apr 2013

Transport Of Solar Energetic Particles Accelerated By Icme Shocks: Reproducing The Reservoir Phenomenon, Gang Qin, Y Wang, Ming Zhang, Silvia Dalla

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

In this work, gradual solar energetic particle (SEP) events observed by multiple spacecraft are investigated with model simulations. Based on a numerical solution of the Fokker-Planck focused transport equation including perpendicular diffusion of particles, we obtained the fluxes of SEPs accelerated by an interplanetary coronal mass ejection driven shock as it propagates outward through the three-dimensional Parker interplanetary magnetic field. The shock is treated as a moving source of energetic particles with an assumed particle distribution function. We look at the time profiles of particle flux as they are observed simultaneously by multiple spacecraft located at different locations. The dependence …


Effects Of Perpendicular Diffusion On Energetic Particles Accelerated By The Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejection Shock, Y Wang, Gang Qin, Ming Zhang Jun 2012

Effects Of Perpendicular Diffusion On Energetic Particles Accelerated By The Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejection Shock, Y Wang, Gang Qin, Ming Zhang

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

In this work, based on a numerical solution of the focused transport equation, we obtained the intensity and anisotropy time profiles of solar energetic particles (SEPs) accelerated by an interplanetary shock in the three-dimensional Parker magnetic field. The shock is treated as a moving source of energetic particles with an assumed particle distribution function. We computed the time profiles of particle flux and anisotropy as measured by an observer at 1 AU, equatorial plane, and various longitudes with respect to the shock propagation direction. With perpendicular diffusion, energetic particles can cross magnetic field lines. Particles may be detected before the …


An Effect Of Perpendicular Diffusion On The Anisotropy Of Solar Energetic Particles From Unconnected Sources, Gang Qin, H. Q. He, Ming Zhang Sep 2011

An Effect Of Perpendicular Diffusion On The Anisotropy Of Solar Energetic Particles From Unconnected Sources, Gang Qin, H. Q. He, Ming Zhang

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

Recently, Tan and coworkers studied the 2001 September 24 solar energetic particle (SEP) event observed by the Wind spacecraft at 1AU and found that there is a counter-streaming particle beam with a deep depression of flux at 90° pitch angle during the beginning of the event. They suggested that it is a result of a reflecting boundary at some distance outside of 1AU. While this scenario could be true under some specific configuration of an interplanetary magnetic field, in this paper we offer another possible explanation. We simulated the SEP event by solving the five-dimensional focused transport equation numerically for …


Propagation Of Solar Energetic Particles In Three-Dimensional Interplanetary Magnetic Fields: In View Of Characteristics Of Sources, H. Q. He, Gang Qin, Ming Zhang Jun 2011

Propagation Of Solar Energetic Particles In Three-Dimensional Interplanetary Magnetic Fields: In View Of Characteristics Of Sources, H. Q. He, Gang Qin, Ming Zhang

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

In this paper, a model of solar energetic particle (SEP) propagation in the three-dimensional Parker interplanetary magnetic field is calculated numerically. We study the effects of the different aspects of particle sources on the solar surface, which include the source location, coverage of latitude and longitude, and spatial distribution of source particle intensity, on propagation of SEPs with both parallel and perpendicular diffusion. We compute the particle flux and anisotropy profiles at different observation locations in the heliosphere. From our calculations, we find that the observation location relative to the latitudinal and longitudinal coverage of particle source has the strongest …


A New Phenomenon In Impulsive-Flare-Associated Energetic Particles, Eileen E. Chollet, Joe Giacalone, Joseph E. Mazur, M Al Dayeh Nov 2007

A New Phenomenon In Impulsive-Flare-Associated Energetic Particles, Eileen E. Chollet, Joe Giacalone, Joseph E. Mazur, M Al Dayeh

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

We present ACE/ULEIS and Wind/STEP observations of a new and unusual feature of energetic ions between 0.02 and 3 MeV nucleon ˉ¹ associated with impulsive solar flares. In addition to the usual velocity dispersion associated with the transit in the heliospheric magnetic field of energetic particles from a small localized source on the Sun, these events also show intermittent behavior that may be related to the magnetic flux tube structure of the solar wind. These are anomalous bursts of low-energy particles, which we call "tassels." Tassels are enhancements of ions extending to much lower energies than those associated with the …


Heavy-Ion Elemental Abundances In Large Solar Energetic Particle Events And Their Implications For The Seed Population, Mihir I. Desai, Glenn M. Mason, Robert E. Gold, Stamatios M. Krimigis, Christina M.S. Cohen, Richard A. Mewaldt, Joseph E. Mazur, Joseph R. Dwyer Sep 2006

Heavy-Ion Elemental Abundances In Large Solar Energetic Particle Events And Their Implications For The Seed Population, Mihir I. Desai, Glenn M. Mason, Robert E. Gold, Stamatios M. Krimigis, Christina M.S. Cohen, Richard A. Mewaldt, Joseph E. Mazur, Joseph R. Dwyer

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

We have surveyed the ∼0.1-10 MeV nucleonˉ¹ abundances of heavy ions from ³He through Fe in 64 large solar energetic particle (LSEP) events observed on board the Advanced Composition Explorer from 1997 November through 2005 January. Our main results are (1) the 0.5-2.0 MeV nucleonˉ¹ ³He/⁴He ratio is enhanced between factors of ∼2-150 over the solar wind value in 29 (∼46%) events. (2) The Fe/O ratio in most LSEP events decreases with increasing energy up to ∼60 MeV nucleonˉ¹. (3) The Fe/O ratio is independent of CME speed, flare longitude, event size, the ³He/⁴He ratio, the pre-event Fe/O ratio, and …


Solar Cycle Variations In The Composition Of The Suprathermal Heavy-Ion Population Near 1 Au, Mihir I. Desai, Glenn M. Mason, Joseph E. Mazur, Joseph R. Dwyer Jul 2006

Solar Cycle Variations In The Composition Of The Suprathermal Heavy-Ion Population Near 1 Au, Mihir I. Desai, Glenn M. Mason, Joseph E. Mazur, Joseph R. Dwyer

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

We have measured the annual variation in the quiet-time composition of interplanetary suprathermal ions between 0.04 and 1 MeV nucleon-1 from 1994 November 20 through 2006 January 1. Our results show the following: (1) The C/O and Fe/O ratios are similar to the corresponding values measured in the solar wind and corotating interaction regions (CIRs) during solar minimum conditions of 1994-1997 and 2005. (2) During periods of increased solar activity between 1998 and 2002, the C/O ratio is similar to that measured in solar energetic particle (SEP) events, while the Fe/O ratio lies between the values measured in coronal mass …


The Ccompton-Getting Effect Of Energetic Particles With An Anisotropic Pitch-Angle Distribution: An Application To Voyager 1 Results At ∼85 Au, Ming Zhang May 2005

The Ccompton-Getting Effect Of Energetic Particles With An Anisotropic Pitch-Angle Distribution: An Application To Voyager 1 Results At ∼85 Au, Ming Zhang

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

This paper provides a theoretical simulation of anisotropy measurements by the Low-Energy Charged Particle (LECP) experiment on Voyager. The model starts with an anisotropic pitch-angle distribution function in the solar wind plasma reference frame. It includes the effects of both Compton-Getting anisotropy and a perpendicular diffusion anisotropy that possibly exists in the upstream region of the termination shock. The calculation is directly applied to the measurements during the late 2002 particle event seen by Voyager 1. It is shown that the data cannot rule out either the model with zero solar wind speed or the one with a finite speed …


Interplanetary Transport Mechanisms Of Solar Energetic Particles, Gang Qin, Ming Zhang, Joseph R. Dwyer, Hamid K. Rassoul Jul 2004

Interplanetary Transport Mechanisms Of Solar Energetic Particles, Gang Qin, Ming Zhang, Joseph R. Dwyer, Hamid K. Rassoul

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

Numerical simulations of charged particle trajectories in a Parker field with model turbulence are used to study the transport mechanisms of solar energetic particles (SEPs): magnetic focusing, pitch-angle diffusive transport due to magnetic fluctuations, and adiabatic cooling. The results of the simulations are compared with analytical formulae for the transport effects. We find that adiabatic cooling is significant for SEPs traveling from the Sun to 1 AU. The simulation results agree much better with the anisotropic adiabatic cooling effect theory than with the isotropic one. Also, we show that the simulation results agree well with the theory of magnetic focusing …


Perpendicular Transport Of Solar Energetic Particles In Heliospheric Magnetic Fields, Ming Zhang, Jack Randy Jokipii, Robert Bruce Mckibben Sep 2003

Perpendicular Transport Of Solar Energetic Particles In Heliospheric Magnetic Fields, Ming Zhang, Jack Randy Jokipii, Robert Bruce Mckibben

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

This paper presents direct observational evidence for large perpendicular diffusive flows of solar energetic particles in heliospheric magnetic fields. Using anisotropy measurements of 40-92 MeV protons obtained by the High-Energy Telescope of the COSPIN consortium on Ulysses at high heliographic latitudes, we find that during several gradual solar particle events, for periods of many hours, the observed particle flow is directed at significant angles to the measured local magnetic field direction, which can only be explained by cross-field diffusion. The variation of the particle flow direction with the magnetic field direction seen in the 2000 July 14 solar energetic particle …


Elemental Fractionation In Small Solar Energetic Particle Events, Penny L. Slocum, Joseph R. Dwyer Sep 2003

Elemental Fractionation In Small Solar Energetic Particle Events, Penny L. Slocum, Joseph R. Dwyer

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

Using the Solar Isotope Spectrometer on the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), we have measured the 11.0-21.8 MeV nucleon-1 heavy (Z ≥ 6) element abundances of 39 small solar energetic particle (SEP) events that occurred between 1998 April 3 and 2002 February 26. Using He isotope data from the UltraLow-Energy Isotope Spectrometer on ACE, we have classified the events according to their 0.5-2.0 MeV nucleonˉ¹ ³He/⁴He ratios. We find that their average heavy-element composition is similar to that of either large gradual events or ³He-rich events, depending on their ³He/⁴He ratio. As seen in recent studies of small SEP events, we …


Evidence For A Suprathermal Seed Population Of Heavy Ions Accelerated By Interplanetary Shocks Near 1 Au, Mihir I. Desai, Glenn M. Mason, Joseph R. Dwyer, Joseph E. Mazur, Robert E. Gold, Stamatios M. Krimigis, Charles W. Smith, Ruth M. Skoug May 2003

Evidence For A Suprathermal Seed Population Of Heavy Ions Accelerated By Interplanetary Shocks Near 1 Au, Mihir I. Desai, Glenn M. Mason, Joseph R. Dwyer, Joseph E. Mazur, Robert E. Gold, Stamatios M. Krimigis, Charles W. Smith, Ruth M. Skoug

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

We have surveyed the 0.1-10 MeV nucleonˉ¹ elemental abundances at 72 interplanetary (IP) shocks observed by the Ultra-Low-Energy Isotope Spectrometer on board the Advanced Composition Explorer from 1997 October through 2002 September. We find the following: (1) The C/O ratios in IP shocks were substantially depleted (by more than ∼40%) relative to solar wind values. (2) The IP shock abundances were poorly correlated with those measured in the slow and fast solar wind. (3) Energetic ions above ∼0.1 MeV nucleonˉ¹ from impulsive and gradual solar energetic particle events (SEPs) were present upstream of all the IP shocks in our survey. …


Isotopic Composition Of Solar Energetic Particle Events Measured By Advanced Composition Explorer/Uleis, Joseph R. Dwyer, Glenn M. Mason, Joseph E. Mazur, Robert E. Gold, Stamatios M. Krimigis, Eberhard S. Möbius, Mark A. Popecki Dec 2001

Isotopic Composition Of Solar Energetic Particle Events Measured By Advanced Composition Explorer/Uleis, Joseph R. Dwyer, Glenn M. Mason, Joseph E. Mazur, Robert E. Gold, Stamatios M. Krimigis, Eberhard S. Möbius, Mark A. Popecki

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

Since its 1997 August launch, the Ultra Low Energy Isotope Spectrometer (ULEIS) on board the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) has observed a large number of solar energetic particle (SEP) events in the 0.4-3 MeV nucleonˉ¹ range. These events show remarkable variability of both the elemental and isotopic compositions, with ²²Ne/²⁰Ne varying, from event to event, by up to a factor of 10, Fe/O by up to a factor of 100, and ³He/⁴He by up to a factor of 104. In this paper we present new measurements of the ²²Ne/²⁰Ne, ²⁶Mg/²⁴Mg, and ³He/⁴He ratios at ∼ 1 MeV nucleonˉ¹ and compare …