Observed distribution functions of H, He, C, O, and Fe in corotating energetic particle streams: Implications for interplanetary acceleration and propagation
Distribution functions for H, He, C, O, and Fe derived from our IMP 8 measurements of approx.0.15 to approx.8 MeV per nucleon particles in three corotating streams observed near Earth are shown to have a simple exponential dependence on the particle speed. The e-folding speed, upsilon/sub 0/, is typically 0.01c, is found to be the same for the distribution functions of all elements examined, and varies little from one corotating event to the next. The relative abundance of energetic particles in these events resemble most closely the solar coronal composition and thus, presumably, that of the solar wind. These results may imply that the acceleration of these particles, which occurs in corotating interaction regions at several AU from the Sun, is by a statistical process.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Maryland
- OSTI ID:
- 5983675
- Journal Information:
- Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States), Vol. 230:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON
COSMOCHEMISTRY
COSMIC NUCLEI
ACCELERATION
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ENERGY SPECTRA
HELIUM
HYDROGEN
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
IRON
OXYGEN
ABUNDANCE
SOLAR FLARES
SOLAR WIND
STOCHASTIC PROCESSES
VELOCITY
CHEMISTRY
COSMIC RADIATION
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
METALS
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SPACE
SPECTRA
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
640101* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Cosmic Radiation
640107 - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Planetary Phenomena