The energy spectra of protons and alpha particles above 300 keV/nucleon during quiet times

An unusual spectral feature and anomalously large abundance of helium between 0.6 and about 2 MeV/nucleon observed during the most quiet time periods in 1974 indicate the presence of low energy helium of an unknown origin. During these same quiet periods protons below 1.5 MeV and alphas below 0.6 MeV/nucleon have a power law energy spectrum with an index of -1.8 and the proton to alpha ratio is about 30. From these results and the measured anisotropy of these particles we conclude that the sun emits less than about 1 MeV particles continuously even during its most inactive periods.