STEREO Observations of an SEP Event Injected Into Both Loop Legs of a Magnetic Cloud

Abstract:

On 7 Nov 2013 STEREO B was embedded in a magnetic-cloud (MC) like structure when an SEP event occurred reaching both STEREO spacecraft. The bi-drectional near relativistic electron distribution observed by STEREO B reveals such timing and relative intensity characteristics suggesting that the SEPs were injected separately into both loop legs of the MC. Observations by the Nancay Radioheliograph (NRH) of two distinct radio sources at the same time further support the above scenario. In order to derive the 3D morphology and average speed of the CME close to the Sun, we use the graduated cylindrical shell model (GCS) which is applied to the white-light coronagraph observations by the STEREO spacecraft and SOHO. Furthermore, a global magnetic topology model for magnetic clouds is applied to the in-situ measurements of the magnetic field. Both models suggest that the MC is strongly inclined with respect to the ecliptic yielding a north/south orientation. The energetic electron observations are used to probe the structure of the magnetic cloud: We determine the electron path lengths along both loop legs of the structure to infer the amount of field line twist inside the MC. The resulting path lengths are around 50% longer than the estimated lengths of the loop legs of the MC itself suggesting that the amount of field line winding is moderate.