Composition Variation of the 2023 May 16 Solar Energetic Particle Event Observed by SolO and PSP

In this study, we employ the combined charged particle measurements from Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun on board the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) and Energetic Particle Detector on board the Solar Orbiter (SolO) to study the composition variation of the solar energetic particle (SEP) event...

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Main Authors: Z. G. Xu, C. M. S Cohen, R. A. Leske, G. D. Muro, A. C. Cummings, D. J. McComas, N. A. Schwadron, E. R. Christian, M. E. Wiedenbeck, R. L. McNutt, D. G. Mitchell, G. M. Mason, A. Kouloumvakos, R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber, G. C. Ho, J. Rodriguez-Pacheco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2024-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal Letters
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad8b18
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author Z. G. Xu
C. M. S Cohen
R. A. Leske
G. D. Muro
A. C. Cummings
D. J. McComas
N. A. Schwadron
E. R. Christian
M. E. Wiedenbeck
R. L. McNutt
D. G. Mitchell
G. M. Mason
A. Kouloumvakos
R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber
G. C. Ho
J. Rodriguez-Pacheco
author_facet Z. G. Xu
C. M. S Cohen
R. A. Leske
G. D. Muro
A. C. Cummings
D. J. McComas
N. A. Schwadron
E. R. Christian
M. E. Wiedenbeck
R. L. McNutt
D. G. Mitchell
G. M. Mason
A. Kouloumvakos
R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber
G. C. Ho
J. Rodriguez-Pacheco
author_sort Z. G. Xu
collection DOAJ
description In this study, we employ the combined charged particle measurements from Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun on board the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) and Energetic Particle Detector on board the Solar Orbiter (SolO) to study the composition variation of the solar energetic particle (SEP) event occurring on 2023 May 16. During the event, SolO and PSP were located at a similar radial distance of ∼0.7 au and were separated by ∼60° in longitude. The footpoints of both PSP and SolO were west of the flare region, but the former was much closer (18° versus 80°). Such a distribution of observers is ideal for studying the longitudinal dependence of the ion composition with the minimum transport effects of particles along the radial direction. We focus on H, He, O, and Fe measured by both spacecraft in sunward and antisunward directions. Their spectra are in a double power-law shape, which is fitted best by the Band function. Notably, the event was Fe rich at PSP, where the mean Fe/O ratio at energies of 0.1–10 Mev nuc ^−1 was 0.48, higher than the average Fe/O ratio in previous large SEP events. In contrast, the mean Fe/O ratio at SolO over the same energy range was considerably lower at 0.08. The Fe/O ratio between 0.5 and 10 MeV nuc ^−1 at both spacecraft is nearly constant. Although the He/H ratio shows energy dependence, decreasing with increasing energy, the He/H ratio at PSP is still about twice as high as that at SolO. Such a strong longitudinal dependence of element abundances and the Fe-rich component in the PSP data could be attributed to the direct flare contribution. Moreover, the temporal profiles indicate that differences in the Fe/O and He/H ratios between PSP and SolO persisted throughout the entire event rather than only at the start.
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spelling doaj-art-cd6f6715289c48cab522824ae40b35c22024-11-11T16:23:21ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal Letters2041-82052024-01-019761L310.3847/2041-8213/ad8b18Composition Variation of the 2023 May 16 Solar Energetic Particle Event Observed by SolO and PSPZ. G. Xu0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9246-996XC. M. S Cohen1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0978-8127R. A. Leske2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0156-2414G. D. Muro3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0581-1278A. C. Cummings4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3840-7696D. J. McComas5https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6160-1158N. A. Schwadron6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3737-9283E. R. Christian7https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2134-3937M. E. Wiedenbeck8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2825-3128R. L. McNutt9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4722-9166D. G. Mitchell10https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1960-2119G. M. Mason11https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2169-9618A. Kouloumvakos12https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6589-4509R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber13https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7388-173XG. C. Ho14https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1093-2066J. Rodriguez-Pacheco15https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4240-1115California Institute of Technology , MC 290-17, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA ; zgxu@caltech.eduCalifornia Institute of Technology , MC 290-17, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA ; zgxu@caltech.eduCalifornia Institute of Technology , MC 290-17, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA ; zgxu@caltech.eduCalifornia Institute of Technology , MC 290-17, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA ; zgxu@caltech.eduCalifornia Institute of Technology , MC 290-17, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA ; zgxu@caltech.eduDepartment of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University , Princeton, USAUniversity of New Hampshire , Durham, NH 03824, USAGoddard Space Flight Center , Greenbelt, USAJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, USAJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Laurel , USAJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Laurel , USAJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Laurel , USAJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Laurel , USAInstitute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University , GermanySouthwest Research Institute , San Antonio, TX 78228, USAUniversity of Alcala , Space Research Group, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, SpainIn this study, we employ the combined charged particle measurements from Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun on board the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) and Energetic Particle Detector on board the Solar Orbiter (SolO) to study the composition variation of the solar energetic particle (SEP) event occurring on 2023 May 16. During the event, SolO and PSP were located at a similar radial distance of ∼0.7 au and were separated by ∼60° in longitude. The footpoints of both PSP and SolO were west of the flare region, but the former was much closer (18° versus 80°). Such a distribution of observers is ideal for studying the longitudinal dependence of the ion composition with the minimum transport effects of particles along the radial direction. We focus on H, He, O, and Fe measured by both spacecraft in sunward and antisunward directions. Their spectra are in a double power-law shape, which is fitted best by the Band function. Notably, the event was Fe rich at PSP, where the mean Fe/O ratio at energies of 0.1–10 Mev nuc ^−1 was 0.48, higher than the average Fe/O ratio in previous large SEP events. In contrast, the mean Fe/O ratio at SolO over the same energy range was considerably lower at 0.08. The Fe/O ratio between 0.5 and 10 MeV nuc ^−1 at both spacecraft is nearly constant. Although the He/H ratio shows energy dependence, decreasing with increasing energy, the He/H ratio at PSP is still about twice as high as that at SolO. Such a strong longitudinal dependence of element abundances and the Fe-rich component in the PSP data could be attributed to the direct flare contribution. Moreover, the temporal profiles indicate that differences in the Fe/O and He/H ratios between PSP and SolO persisted throughout the entire event rather than only at the start.https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad8b18Solar energetic particlesHeliosphereSolar coronal mass ejection shocksSolar flaresSolar particle emissionInterplanetary particle acceleration
spellingShingle Z. G. Xu
C. M. S Cohen
R. A. Leske
G. D. Muro
A. C. Cummings
D. J. McComas
N. A. Schwadron
E. R. Christian
M. E. Wiedenbeck
R. L. McNutt
D. G. Mitchell
G. M. Mason
A. Kouloumvakos
R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber
G. C. Ho
J. Rodriguez-Pacheco
Composition Variation of the 2023 May 16 Solar Energetic Particle Event Observed by SolO and PSP
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Solar energetic particles
Heliosphere
Solar coronal mass ejection shocks
Solar flares
Solar particle emission
Interplanetary particle acceleration
title Composition Variation of the 2023 May 16 Solar Energetic Particle Event Observed by SolO and PSP
title_full Composition Variation of the 2023 May 16 Solar Energetic Particle Event Observed by SolO and PSP
title_fullStr Composition Variation of the 2023 May 16 Solar Energetic Particle Event Observed by SolO and PSP
title_full_unstemmed Composition Variation of the 2023 May 16 Solar Energetic Particle Event Observed by SolO and PSP
title_short Composition Variation of the 2023 May 16 Solar Energetic Particle Event Observed by SolO and PSP
title_sort composition variation of the 2023 may 16 solar energetic particle event observed by solo and psp
topic Solar energetic particles
Heliosphere
Solar coronal mass ejection shocks
Solar flares
Solar particle emission
Interplanetary particle acceleration
url https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad8b18
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