Investigation of Energetic Particles in the Sun and Heliosphere at Different Phases of Solar Activity
Abstract
The scenario of particle acceleration and parameters gained by these energetic particles (energy spectra, pitch angle distributions) and links to magnetic field topologies where they were energized. These characteristics are of a great interest for many researchers and space industry as they define space weather in the heliosphere. These energetic particles reveal very peculiar distributions in velocities and pitch angles not anticipated by regular models of stochastic particle acceleration by turbulence or shocks. We carried out a revision of the existing particle acceleration models with the emphasis on their links to magnetic reconnection processes occurring in the Sun and heliosphere and derived particle parameters (energy, directivity, pitch angle distribution) during their passage through reconnecting current sheets occurring in the solar corona (eruptive flares) and in the heliosphere. The investigation of particle acceleration was carried out with a 3D Particle-in-cell PIC approach combined with a 3D test particle (TP) approach. The consequent transport effects of particle propagation in the solar atmosphere were studied by testing flaring atmosphere parameters with simulated hydrodynamic models of flaring atmospheres heated by energetic particles (electrons, protons and their mixture) and resulting seismic signatures on the solar surface caused by these hydrodynamic shocks induced by accelerated particles. This helped us to understand the fundamental properties of accelerated particles after their ejection from reconnecting current sheets and, consequently, to predict the parameters of energetic particles (energy/velocity and pitch angle distributions as well as particle density profiles) passing through the current sheets with low (heliosphere) and high (solar corona) density plasmas and for different types of magnetic field topologies, or scenarios of magnetic reconnection.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 19, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1137225
Entities
People
- Valentina Zharkova
Organizations
- Northumbria University