The Propagation of Solar Energetic Particles as Observed by the Stereo Spacecraft and Near Earth

Abstract:

Over 200 Solar Energetic Particle Events (SEPs) with protons > 25 MeV have been identified using data from the IMPACT HET telescopes on the STEREO A and B spacecraft and similar data from SoHO near Earth. The properties of these events are tabulated in a recent publication in Solar Physics (Richardson, et al., 2014). One of the goals of the Stereo Mission is to better understand the propagation of SEPs. The properties of events observed by multiple spacecraft on average are well-organized by the distance of the footpoints of the nominal Parker Spiral magnetic field lines passing the observing spacecraft from the parent active regions. However, some events deviate significantly from this pattern. For example, in events observed by three spacecraft, the spacecraft with the best nominal connection does not necessarily observe the highest intensity or earliest particle arrival time. We will search for such events and try to relate their behavior to non-nominal magnetic field patterns. We will look, for example, for the effects of the interplanetary current sheet, the influence of magnetic clouds which are thought to contain large magnetic loops with both ends connected to the sun (a large departure from the Parker spiral), and also whether particle propagation can be disrupted by the presence of interplanetary shocks.

Reference:

Richardson et al., Solar Phys. 289, 3059, 2014