scholarly journals Positron Processes in the Sun

Atoms ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nat Gopalswamy
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Impulsive Phase ◽  
Energetic Particles ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Extended Phase ◽  
Solar Eruptions ◽  
Low Energies ◽  
Shock Mechanism ◽  
Recent Developments

Positrons play a major role in the emission of solar gamma-rays at energies from a few hundred keV to >1 GeV. Although the processes leading to positron production in the solar atmosphere are well known, the origin of the underlying energetic particles that interact with the ambient particles is poorly understood. With the aim of understanding the full gamma-ray spectrum of the Sun, I review the key emission mechanisms that contribute to the observed gamma-ray spectrum, focusing on the ones involving positrons. In particular, I review the processes involved in the 0.511 MeV positron annihilation line and the positronium continuum emissions at low energies, and the pion continuum emission at high energies in solar eruptions. It is thought that particles accelerated at the flare reconnection and at the shock driven by coronal mass ejections are responsible for the observed gamma-ray features. Based on some recent developments I suggest that energetic particles from both mechanisms may contribute to the observed gamma-ray spectrum in the impulsive phase, while the shock mechanism is responsible for the extended phase.

Interplanetary shocks as a source of sustained gamma-ray emission from the Sun

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nat Gopalswamy ◽  
Pertti Mäkelä
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Rays ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Solar Energetic Particle ◽  
Impulsive Phase ◽  
High Energy ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Interplanetary Shocks ◽  
Neutral Pions ◽  
Flare Loops ◽  
Gamma Ray Emission

<p>It has recently been shown that the sustained gamma-ray emission (SGRE) from the Sun that lasts for hours beyond the impulsive phase of the associated flare is closely related to radio emission from interplanetary shocks (Gopalswamy et al. 2019, JPhCS, 1332, 012004, 2019). This relationship supports the idea that >300 MeV protons accelerated by CME-driven shocks propagate toward the Sun, collide with chromospheric protons and produce neutral pions that promptly decay into >80 MeV gamma-rays. There have been two challenges to this idea. (i) Since the location of the shock can be halfway between the Sun and Earth at the SGRE end time, it has been suggested that magnetic mirroring will not allow the high energy protons to precipitate. (ii) Lack of correlation between the number protons involved in the production of >100 MeV gamma-rays (Ng) and the number of protons (Nsep) in the associated solar energetic particle (SEP) event has been reported. In this paper, we show that the mirror ratio problem is no different from that in flare loops where electrons and protons precipitate to produce impulsive phase emissions. We also suggest that the lack of Ng – Nsep correlation is due to two reasons: (1) Nsep is underestimated in the case of eruptions happening at large ecliptic latitudes because the high-energy protons accelerated near the nose do not reach the observer. (2) In the case of limb events, the Ng is underestimated because gamma-rays from some part of the extended gamma-ray source do not reach the observer.</p>

scholarly journals Discovery of recombining plasma inside the extended gamma-ray supernova remnant HB9

2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (3) ◽  
pp. 4300-4310 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Sezer ◽  
T Ergin ◽  
R Yamazaki ◽  
H Sano ◽  
Y Fukui
Keyword(s):  
Supernova Remnant ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Imaging Spectrometer ◽  
X Ray ◽  
East Region ◽  
X Ray Imaging ◽  
Collisional Ionization

ABSTRACT We present the results from the Suzaku X-ray Imaging Spectrometer observation of the mixed-morphology supernova remnant (SNR) HB9 (G160.9+2.6). We discovered recombining plasma (RP) in the western Suzaku observation region and the spectra here are well described by a model having collisional ionization equilibrium (CIE) and RP components. On the other hand, the X-ray spectra from the eastern Suzaku observation region are best reproduced by the CIE and non-equilibrium ionization model. We discuss possible scenarios to explain the origin of the RP emission based on the observational properties and concluded that the rarefaction scenario is a possible explanation for the existence of RP. In addition, the gamma-ray emission morphology and spectrum within the energy range of 0.2–300 GeV are investigated using 10 yr of data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). The gamma-ray morphology of HB9 is best described by the spatial template of radio continuum emission. The spectrum is well fit to a log-parabola function and its detection significance was found to be 25σ. Moreover, a new gamma-ray point source located just outside the south-east region of the SNR’s shell was detected with a significance of 6σ. We also investigated the archival H i and CO data and detected an expanding shell structure in the velocity range of $-10.5$ and $+1.8$ km s−1 that is coinciding with a region of gamma-ray enhancement at the southern rim of the HB9 shell.

scholarly journals Solar energetic particles and their variability from the sun and beyond

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Mewaldt ◽  
C. M. S. Cohen ◽  
G. M. Mason ◽  
T. T. von Rosenvinge ◽  
R. A. Leske ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energetic Particles ◽  
Solar Energetic Particles ◽  
The Sun

A puzzling gamma-ray survey of the Sun

Physics Today ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (10) ◽  
pp. 21-21
Author(s):  
Andrew Grant
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
The Sun

scholarly journals Ulysses COSPIN observations of cosmic rays and solar energetic particles from the South Pole to the North Pole of the Sun during solar maximum

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1217-1228 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. McKibben ◽  
J. J. Connell ◽  
C. Lopate ◽  
M. Zhang ◽  
J. D. Anglin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Solar Maximum ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Energetic Particles ◽  
Solar Energetic Particles ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
The Sun ◽  
The South ◽  
The North ◽  
Inner Heliosphere

Abstract. In 2000–2001 Ulysses passed from the south to the north polar regions of the Sun in the inner heliosphere, providing a snapshot of the latitudinal structure of cosmic ray modulation and solar energetic particle populations during a period near solar maximum.  Observations from the COSPIN suite of energetic charged particle telescopes show that latitude variations in the cosmic ray intensity in the inner heliosphere are nearly non-existent near solar maximum, whereas small but clear latitude gradients were observed during the similar phase of Ulysses’ orbit near the 1994–95 solar minimum. At proton energies above ~10 MeV and extending up to >70 MeV, the intensities are often dominated by Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) accelerated near the Sun in association with intense solar flares and large Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). At lower energies the particle intensities are almost constantly enhanced above background, most likely as a result of a mix of SEPs and particles accelerated by interplanetary shocks. Simultaneous high-latitude Ulysses and near-Earth observations show that most events that produce large flux increases near Earth also produce flux increases at Ulysses, even at the highest latitudes attained. Particle anisotropies during particle onsets at Ulysses are typically directed outwards from the Sun, suggesting either acceleration extending to high latitudes or efficient cross-field propagation somewhere inside the orbit of Ulysses. Both cosmic ray and SEP observations are consistent with highly efficient transport of energetic charged particles between the equatorial and polar regions and across the mean interplanetary magnetic fields in the inner heliosphere.Key words. Interplanetary physics (cosmic rays) – Solar physics, astrophysics and astronomy (energetic particles; flares and mass ejections)

scholarly journals Hydrodynamic Models of Solar and Stellar Flares

1989 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 289-298
Author(s):  
Giovanni Peres
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Light Curve ◽  
Solar Flares ◽  
Impulsive Phase ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Hydrodynamic Models ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Stellar Flares

AbstractThis paper discusses the hydrodynamic modeling of flaring plasma confined in magnetic loops and its objectives within the broader scope of flare physics. In particular, the Palermo-Harvard model is discussed along with its applications to the detailed fitting of X-ray light curves of solar flares and to the simulation of high-resolution Caxix spectra in the impulsive phase. These two approaches provide complementary constraints on the relevant features of solar flares. The extension to the stellar case, with the fitting of the light curve of an X-ray flare which occurred on Proxima Centauri, demonstrates the feasibility of using this kind of model for stars too. Although the stellar observations do not provide the wealth of details available for the Sun, and, therefore, constrain the model more loosely, there are strong motivations to pursue this line of research: the wider range of physical parameters in stellar flares and the possibility of studying further the solar-stellar connection.

scholarly journals Precision measurements on oxygen formation in stellar helium burning with gamma-ray beams and a Time Projection Chamber

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Smith ◽  
Moshe Gai ◽  
Sarah Stern ◽  
Deran Schweitzer ◽  
Mohammad Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Time Projection Chamber ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Nuclear Reactions ◽  
Angular Distributions ◽  
Helium Burning ◽  
Low Energies ◽  
Important Input ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Time Projection ◽  
First Time

Abstract Stellar Evolution theory relies on our knowledge of nuclear reactions, with the carbon/oxygen (C/O) ratio, at the end of helium burning, being the single most important input. However, the C/O ratio is still not known with sufficient accuracy, due to large uncertainties in the cross section for the fusion of helium with 12C to form 16O, denoted as the 12C(α,γ)16O reaction. We present initial results at moderately low energies using a novel method, which is significantly different from the experimental efforts of the past four decades. Precise angular distributions of the 12C(α,γ)16O reaction were obtained by measuring the inverse 16O(γ,α)12C reaction with gamma-beams and a Time Projection Chamber detector. These allowed us to measure, for the first time, the interference angle of the l = 1 and 2 partial waves contributing to this reaction (φ12), which agrees with predictions based on the unitarity of the scattering matrix.

scholarly journals The Solar Orbiter Science Activity Plan

2020 ◽  
Vol 642 ◽  
pp. A3 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Zouganelis ◽  
A. De Groof ◽  
A. P. Walsh ◽  
D. R. Williams ◽  
D. Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Activity Cycle ◽  
Solar Activity Cycle ◽  
Coronal Magnetic Field ◽  
Space Mission ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Particle Radiation ◽  
Science Activity ◽  
Science Operations ◽  
Solar Eruptions

Solar Orbiter is the first space mission observing the solar plasma both in situ and remotely, from a close distance, in and out of the ecliptic. The ultimate goal is to understand how the Sun produces and controls the heliosphere, filling the Solar System and driving the planetary environments. With six remote-sensing and four in-situ instrument suites, the coordination and planning of the operations are essential to address the following four top-level science questions: (1) What drives the solar wind and where does the coronal magnetic field originate?; (2) How do solar transients drive heliospheric variability?; (3) How do solar eruptions produce energetic particle radiation that fills the heliosphere?; (4) How does the solar dynamo work and drive connections between the Sun and the heliosphere? Maximising the mission’s science return requires considering the characteristics of each orbit, including the relative position of the spacecraft to Earth (affecting downlink rates), trajectory events (such as gravitational assist manoeuvres), and the phase of the solar activity cycle. Furthermore, since each orbit’s science telemetry will be downloaded over the course of the following orbit, science operations must be planned at mission level, rather than at the level of individual orbits. It is important to explore the way in which those science questions are translated into an actual plan of observations that fits into the mission, thus ensuring that no opportunities are missed. First, the overarching goals are broken down into specific, answerable questions along with the required observations and the so-called Science Activity Plan (SAP) is developed to achieve this. The SAP groups objectives that require similar observations into Solar Orbiter Observing Plans, resulting in a strategic, top-level view of the optimal opportunities for science observations during the mission lifetime. This allows for all four mission goals to be addressed. In this paper, we introduce Solar Orbiter’s SAP through a series of examples and the strategy being followed.

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