A search for solar flare positronsThe detection of solar gamma-ray line emission and observations of the isotopes H2, H-3, and He-3 in solar cosmic rays provide direct evidence for the occurrence of high energy nuclear reactions in solar flare events. Appreciable numbers of other reaction products, including positrons with energies near about 1 MeV, should also be produced in such events. We have searched for positrons in the 0.16-1.6 MeV energy interval during 5 H-3 rich solar particle events. Based on calculations of positron and He-3 production at the sun, and using a simplified model of interplanetary propagation, we might expect comparable fluences of positrons and He-3 to be observed. Summing over these 5 events, we find the 0.16 to 1.6 MeV positron fluence to be a maximum of about 10% of the He-3 fluence with more tnan 1 MeV/nuc. This suggests that other processes, such as preferential trapping by the solar magnetic field, may be important.
Document ID
19760043967
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Mewaldt, R. A. (California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Stone, E. C. (California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Vogt, R. E. (California Institute of Technology Pasadena, Calif., United States)