E. V. Vashenyuk

Relativistic Solar Protons in the Event of January 20, 2005: Model Studies

Using the optimization methods, the characteristics of relativistic solar protons (RSPs) have been obtained from the data of ground-based cosmic ray detectors in the event of January 20, 2005, which was the largest event in the last 50 years since the event of February 23, 1956. The RSP dynamics during the event has been studied. The existence of two populations (components) of particles, fast and delayed (slow) has been shown. The fast component with a hard exponential energy spectrum and strong anisotropy was shown as a giant pulselike enhancement at several southern polar stations. The delayed component had a power-law energy spectrum and a wider pitch-angle distribution, which caused the enhancement effect at the majority of stations at the global network.

Solar cosmic rays: 70 years of ground-based observations

The main data have been summarized, and the results, achieved using data from the worldwide network during the entire period of ground-based observations of solar cosmic rays (SCRs) from February 28, 1942, when they were discovered, have been generalized. The methods and equipment for registering SCRs have been described. The physical, methodical, and applied aspects, related to the SCR generation, as well as the SCR interaction with the solar atmosphere, transport in the IMF, motion in the Earth’s magnetosphere, and the affect on the Earth’s atmosphere, have been discussed. It has been indicated that the fundamental results were achieved in this field of space physics during 70 years of studies. Special attention has been paid to up-to-date models and concepts of ground-level enhancement (GLE). The most promising tendencies in the development and application of this effective method of solar-terrestrial physics have been outlined.

Characteristics of Relativistic Solar Cosmic Rays during the Event of December 13, 2006

The characteristics of relativistic solar protons have been obtained using the methods of optimization based on the data of ground detectors of cosmic rays during the event of December 13, 2006, which occurred under the conditions of solar activity minimum. The dynamics of relativistic solar protons during the event has been studied. It has been indicated that two populations (components) of particles exist: prompt and delayed (slow). The prompt component with a hard energy spectrum and strong anisotropy manifested itself as a pulse-shaped enhancement at Apatity and Oulu stations, which received particles with small pitch-angles. The delayed component had a wider pitch-angle distribution, as a result of which an enhancement was moderate at Barentsburg station and at most neutron monitors of the worldwide network. The energy spectra obtained from the ground-based observations are in good agreement with the direct measurements of solar protons on balloons and spacecraft.

The spectrum of solar cosmic rays: Data of observations and numerical simulation

Analysis of the relativistic proton spectra of solar flares occurring in the 23rd solar activity cycle derived from data of a worldwide neutron monitor network and numerical modeling both provide evidence for the acceleration of charged particles by an electric field that arises in coronal current sheets during reconnection. The method used to obtain the spectra is based on simulating the response of a neutron monitor to an anisotropic flux of relativistic solar protons with specified parameters and determining the characteristics of the primary relativistic solar protons by fitting model responses to the observations. Studies of the dynamics of the energy spectra distinguish two populations of relativistic protons in solar cosmic-ray events: the so-called fast component, which arrives at the flux front of the solar cosmic rays, followed by the delayed slow component. The fast component is characterized by strong anisotropy and an exponential energy spectrum, in agreement with the spectrum yielded by mathematical modeling of particle acceleration by an electric field directed along the X line of the magnetic field. The slow component, whose propagation is probably diffusive, has a power-law spectrum.

IMPULSIVE, STOCHASTIC, AND SHOCK WAVE ACCELERATION OF RELATIVISTIC PROTONS IN LARGE SOLAR EVENTS OF 1989 SEPTEMBER 29, 2000 JULY 14, 2003 OCTOBER 28, AND 2005 JANUARY 20

Using the data from neutron monitors and applying various techniques, the parameters of relativistic solar protons (RSPs) outside the magnetosphere are currently being derived by several research groups. Such data, together with direct proton measurements from balloons and spacecraft, allow the determination of particle energy spectra near the Earths orbit in successive moments of time. Spectra of RSPs in a number of large solar events tend to indicate the existence of multistep acceleration at/near the Sun. In this paper, we study the generation of RSP by neutral current sheet, stochastic, and shock-wave acceleration, within the framework of two-component concepts for ground level enhancements (GLEs) of solar cosmic rays (SCRs). Our analysis is extended to large solar events (GLEs) of 1989 September 29, 2000 July 14, 2003 October 28, and 2005 January 20. We found two different particle populations (components) in the relativistic energy range: a prompt component (PC), characterized by an early impulselike intensity increase, hard spectrum and high anisotropy, and a delayed component, presenting a gradual late increase, soft spectrum and low anisotropy. Based on a two-source model for SCR spectrum formation at the Sun, we carried out theoretical calculations of spectra in the sources for both components. We conclude that the processes in neutral current sheet, together with stochastic acceleration in expanding magnetic trap in the solar corona, are able to explain the production of two different relativistic components. Shock acceleration in the presence of coronal mass ejection (CME) fits fairly only the nonrelativistic range of the SCR spectrum, but fails in the description of relativistic proton spectra, especially for the PC.

The generation of hard X-rays and relativistic protons observed during solar flares

The flare source of thermal X-rays above a magnetic arch in the corona arises from the dissipation of the magnetic energy of the current sheet formed at the reconnection of magnetic-field lines. The sources of hard X-rays emitted from the footpoints of the magnetic arch are beams of electrons accelerated in field-aligned currents induced by the Hall electric field generated in the current sheet. Both the hard X-rays detected above the active region and the type III radio emission are radiated by electrons accelerated in the field-aligned currents induced by Alfven waves. The solar cosmic rays are emitted promptly at the instant of the flare. It is important that the Lorentz electric field accelerates protons along the singular magnetic X line. The relativistic protons propagate along the interplanetary magnetic field. These protons have exponential spectra, typical for acceleration occurring in current sheets. A mechanism that is relevant for the generation of delayed cosmic rays, which demonstrate significant anisotropy and a power-law spectrum with γ ∼5, is also discussed.

On the formation of relativistic particle fluxes in extended coronal structures

We analyze neutron monitor data of solar cosmic rays in order to obtain information about their sources. We use three methods for these data analysis. As result, we obtain a set of evidences for two separate solar cosmic rays sources that we call as prompt and delayed components. We attempt here to substantiate a two sources scenario for the generation of both components. For the prompt component source, we suggest regular acceleration in a neutral current sheet. For the delayed one, we propose acceleration by magnetosonic wave turbulence.

Search for periodicities in galactic cosmic rays, sunspots and coronal index before arrival of relativistic protons from the sun

Using different approaches and techniques of wavelet analysis we analyze variations (oscillations) of galactic cosmic rays, solar spot number, and coronal index of solar activity before ground level enhancements of solar cosmic rays. Obtained results are discussed in frames of recent ideas about periodicity phenomena in the photosphere, and corona of the Sun, interplanetary medium, and cosmic rays.

Two-component concept for ground level enhancements of solar cosmic rays: Solar and interplanetary aspects

We discuss solar and interplanetary aspects concerning the observations and interpretation of two relativistic components of solar cosmic rays (SCRs), namely, impulsive (prompt) and slow (delayed) components (PC and DC, respectively). The prompt component is characterized by the strong anisotropy and exponential energy spectrum. The delayed component is essentially isotropic and has a power-law energy spectrum. Our analysis of observational data and theoretical arguments rules out the interplanetary propagation as the origin for these two components. Most likely, they are formed in the SCR generation on the Sun within the framework of two-source model with multiple acceleration processes in the solar atmosphere.

Variations of gamma radiation spectra during precipitations

In the present paper results of prolonging studies of variations of a natural gamma (X-ray) radiation during precipitations registered at cosmic ray station in Apatity are presented. To the present time in the complex installation realizing monitoring of the near ground radiation, the detector is added on the basis of a scintillation crystal by size O150×100 mm. The special procedure of working out of the differential energy spectra obtained on the basis of this detector is designed. Due to this it is found, that increases are produced by an additional flux of radiation with the non-regular descending energy spectrum superimposed on a background radiation, having a power law energy spectrum. The clear upper energy limit of the additional radiation, accompanying with precipitations, is observed. It is 1.8-2.0 MeV. Any spectral lines, which could be produced by radionuclides, are not revealed in all researched gamut. It is concluded that these fluxes are produced by energetic charged particles during their passage through the atmosphere, i.e. Bremsstrahlung generation process. Based on the energy balance, the minimum field strength, which can cause a secondary increase, was performed.