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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Space Physics

 

Keywords

  • solar energetic particles
  • coronal mass ejection
  • particle transport

Index Terms

  • Interplanetary Physics: Cosmic rays
  • Interplanetary Physics: Coronal mass ejections
  • Interplanetary Physics: Ejecta, driver gases, and magnetic clouds
  • Interplanetary Physics: Interplanetary magnetic fields
Abstract
Cited By (6)
 

Abstract

Modeling the solar energetic particle events in closed structures of interplanetary magnetic field

L. Kocharov

Department of Physics and the Väisälä Institute for Space Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

G. A. Kovaltsov

Department of Physics and the Väisälä Institute for Space Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

J. Torsti

Department of Physics and the Väisälä Institute for Space Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

K. Huttunen-Heikinmaa

Department of Physics and the Väisälä Institute for Space Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

We undertook a numerical modeling of the solar energetic particle (SEP) event inside a loop-like magnetic cloud in the solar wind. Particles accelerated near the Sun are injected into the cloud of a previous coronal mass ejection (CME) that already has expanded through 1 AU. In the framework of focused transport, we perform Monte Carlo simulations of the SEP propagation and adiabatic deceleration caused by an overall expansion of the CME. The loop-like structure of the interplanetary magnetic field strongly modifies the intensity-time profiles of high-energy protons. At not very small values of the particle mean free path, λ > 0.1 AU, and a power-law energy spectrum of >1 MeV protons, the proton event development after the intensity maximum is significantly closer to an exponential-decay profile than would be expected based on the modeling in the standard Archimedean-spiral field. The modeling results are similar to the patterns observed with the Energetic and Relativistic Nuclei and Electron (ERNE) particle telescope on board SOHO on 2–3 May 1998. We compare the numerical modeling results with estimates based on the diffusion-convection equation of SEP transport and provide analytical formulae, which can be used for analysis of future events.

Received 16 February 2005; accepted 18 April 2005; published 5 October 2005.

Citation: Kocharov, L., G. A. Kovaltsov, J. Torsti, and K. Huttunen-Heikinmaa (2005), Modeling the solar energetic particle events in closed structures of interplanetary magnetic field, J. Geophys. Res., 110, A12S03, doi:10.1029/2005JA011082.

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