Prompt simultaneous acceleration of protons and electrons to relativistic energies by shock waves in solar flares

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/166668· OSTI ID:6674612

Ohsawa, Y; Sakai, J

It is shown by theory and fully relativistic, electromagnetic particle simulation that a collisionless fast magnetosonic shock wave can promptly accelerate protons and electrons to relativistic energies; proton energies greater than about 10 to the 9th eV and electron energies greater than about 10 to the 6th eV. The time needed for the proton acceleration is of the order of the ion cyclotron period and is quite short (much less than 1 s for solar plasmas). The electron acceleration time is shorter than the ion cyclotron period. The present shock acceleration mechanism can explain important features of observed particle acceleration in the impulsive phase of solar flares; simultaneous and prompt acceleration of protons and electrons to relativistic energies. 31 references.

• Research Organization: Nagoya Univ. (Japan); Toyama Univ. (Japan)
• OSTI ID: 6674612
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 332
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
SOLAR ELECTRONS
ACCELERATION
SOLAR FLARES
SOLAR PROTONS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SHOCK WAVES
BARYONS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
FERMIONS
HADRONS
LEPTONS
NUCLEONS
PROTONS
RADIATIONS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION
640104* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Solar Phenomena