How efficient are coronal mass ejections at accelerating solar energetic particles?

R. A. Mewaldt; C. M.S. Cohen; J. Giacalone; G. M. Mason; E. E. Chollet; M. I. Desai; D. K. Haggerty; M. D. Looper; R. S. Selesnick; A. Vourlidas

doi:10.1063/1.2982431

How efficient are coronal mass ejections at accelerating solar energetic particles?

R. A. Mewaldt, C. M.S. Cohen, J. Giacalone, G. M. Mason, E. E. Chollet, M. I. Desai, D. K. Haggerty, M. D. Looper, R. S. Selesnick, A. Vourlidas

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

The largest solar energetic particle (SEP) events are thought to be due to particle acceleration at a shock driven by a fast coronal mass ejection (CME). We investigate the efficiency of this process by comparing the total energy content of energetic particles with the kinetic energy of the associated CMEs. The energy content of 23 large SEP events from 1998 through 2003 is estimated based on data from ACE, GOES, and SAMPEX, and interpreted using the results of particle transport simulations and inferred longitude distributions. CME data for these events are obtained from SOHO. When compared to the estimated kinetic energy of the associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs), it is found that large SEP events can extract ∼10% or more of the CME kinetic energy. The largest SEP events appear to require massive, very energetic CMEs.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Heliosphere and Beyond - 7th Annual International Astrophysics Conference
Pages	111-117
Number of pages	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2982431
State	Published - 2008
Event	7th Annual International Astrophysics Conference on Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Heliosphere and Beyond - Kauai, HI, United States Duration: Mar 7 2008 → Mar 13 2008

Publication series

Name	AIP Conference Proceedings
Volume	1039
ISSN (Print)	0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)	1551-7616

Other

Other	7th Annual International Astrophysics Conference on Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Heliosphere and Beyond
Country/Territory	United States
City	Kauai, HI
Period	3/7/08 → 3/13/08

Keywords

CMEs
Particle acceleration
Solar energetic particles

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physics and Astronomy(all)

Access to Document

10.1063/1.2982431

Cite this

Mewaldt, R. A., Cohen, C. M. S., Giacalone, J., Mason, G. M., Chollet, E. E., Desai, M. I., Haggerty, D. K., Looper, M. D., Selesnick, R. S., & Vourlidas, A. (2008). How efficient are coronal mass ejections at accelerating solar energetic particles? In Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Heliosphere and Beyond - 7th Annual International Astrophysics Conference (pp. 111-117). (AIP Conference Proceedings; Vol. 1039). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2982431

How efficient are coronal mass ejections at accelerating solar energetic particles? / Mewaldt, R. A.; Cohen, C. M.S.; Giacalone, J. et al.
Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Heliosphere and Beyond - 7th Annual International Astrophysics Conference. 2008. p. 111-117 (AIP Conference Proceedings; Vol. 1039).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Mewaldt, RA, Cohen, CMS, Giacalone, J, Mason, GM, Chollet, EE, Desai, MI, Haggerty, DK, Looper, MD, Selesnick, RS & Vourlidas, A 2008, How efficient are coronal mass ejections at accelerating solar energetic particles? in Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Heliosphere and Beyond - 7th Annual International Astrophysics Conference. AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 1039, pp. 111-117, 7th Annual International Astrophysics Conference on Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Heliosphere and Beyond, Kauai, HI, United States, 3/7/08. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2982431

@inproceedings{d8e3aa64c3944edeb27d59e9a860eaf2,

title = "How efficient are coronal mass ejections at accelerating solar energetic particles?",

abstract = "The largest solar energetic particle (SEP) events are thought to be due to particle acceleration at a shock driven by a fast coronal mass ejection (CME). We investigate the efficiency of this process by comparing the total energy content of energetic particles with the kinetic energy of the associated CMEs. The energy content of 23 large SEP events from 1998 through 2003 is estimated based on data from ACE, GOES, and SAMPEX, and interpreted using the results of particle transport simulations and inferred longitude distributions. CME data for these events are obtained from SOHO. When compared to the estimated kinetic energy of the associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs), it is found that large SEP events can extract ∼10% or more of the CME kinetic energy. The largest SEP events appear to require massive, very energetic CMEs.",

keywords = "CMEs, Particle acceleration, Solar energetic particles",

author = "Mewaldt, {R. A.} and Cohen, {C. M.S.} and J. Giacalone and Mason, {G. M.} and Chollet, {E. E.} and Desai, {M. I.} and Haggerty, {D. K.} and Looper, {M. D.} and Selesnick, {R. S.} and A. Vourlidas",

year = "2008",

doi = "10.1063/1.2982431",

language = "English (US)",

isbn = "9780735405660",

series = "AIP Conference Proceedings",

pages = "111--117",

booktitle = "Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Heliosphere and Beyond - 7th Annual International Astrophysics Conference",

note = "7th Annual International Astrophysics Conference on Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Heliosphere and Beyond ; Conference date: 07-03-2008 Through 13-03-2008",