Helium-3 Enrichment in Gradual Solar Energetic Particle Events: Evidence for Jet-Supplied Seed Population

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Bucik, R., Hart, S. T., Dayeh, M. A., Desai, M. I., Mason, G. M., Wiedenbeck, M. E.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Bucik, R.
Hart, S. T.
Dayeh, M. A.
Desai, M. I.
Mason, G. M.
Wiedenbeck, M. E.
author_facet Bucik, R.
Hart, S. T.
Dayeh, M. A.
Desai, M. I.
Mason, G. M.
Wiedenbeck, M. E.
contents Enhancements in 3He abundance, a characteristic feature of impulsive solar energetic particle (ISEP) events, are also frequently observed in gradual SEP (GSEP) events. Understanding the origin of this enrichment is crucial for identifying the mechanisms behind SEP generation. We investigate the origin of 3He enrichment in high-energy (25-50 MeV) solar proton events observed by SOHO, selecting events that coincide with <1 MeV/nucleon 3He-rich periods detected by ACE during 1997-2021. The identified 3He enhancements include cases where material from independent impulsive (3He-rich) SEP events is mixed with GSEP proton populations. Two high-energy proton events exhibit elemental composition and solar source characteristics consistent with ISEPs. Extreme-ultraviolet imaging from SDO and STEREO reveals narrow, jet-like eruptions in the parent active regions of about 60% of the remaining events. Notably, the highest 3He/4He ratios occur when coronal jets are present, consistent with fresh, jet-driven injection of suprathermal 3He that is subsequently re-accelerated during the event. Correspondingly, jet-associated events show fewer pre-event (residual) 3He counts, indicating that enrichment in these cases does not primarily come from remnant material. We find a positive correlation between 3He/4He and Fe/O, strongest in jet-associated events, consistent with a common jet-supplied seed population re-accelerated by the CME shock.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_17134
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Helium-3 Enrichment in Gradual Solar Energetic Particle Events: Evidence for Jet-Supplied Seed Population
Bucik, R.
Hart, S. T.
Dayeh, M. A.
Desai, M. I.
Mason, G. M.
Wiedenbeck, M. E.
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Space Physics
Enhancements in 3He abundance, a characteristic feature of impulsive solar energetic particle (ISEP) events, are also frequently observed in gradual SEP (GSEP) events. Understanding the origin of this enrichment is crucial for identifying the mechanisms behind SEP generation. We investigate the origin of 3He enrichment in high-energy (25-50 MeV) solar proton events observed by SOHO, selecting events that coincide with <1 MeV/nucleon 3He-rich periods detected by ACE during 1997-2021. The identified 3He enhancements include cases where material from independent impulsive (3He-rich) SEP events is mixed with GSEP proton populations. Two high-energy proton events exhibit elemental composition and solar source characteristics consistent with ISEPs. Extreme-ultraviolet imaging from SDO and STEREO reveals narrow, jet-like eruptions in the parent active regions of about 60% of the remaining events. Notably, the highest 3He/4He ratios occur when coronal jets are present, consistent with fresh, jet-driven injection of suprathermal 3He that is subsequently re-accelerated during the event. Correspondingly, jet-associated events show fewer pre-event (residual) 3He counts, indicating that enrichment in these cases does not primarily come from remnant material. We find a positive correlation between 3He/4He and Fe/O, strongest in jet-associated events, consistent with a common jet-supplied seed population re-accelerated by the CME shock.
title Helium-3 Enrichment in Gradual Solar Energetic Particle Events: Evidence for Jet-Supplied Seed Population
topic Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Space Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.17134