Suprathermal particles

Recent observations of suprathermal particles in the interplanetary medium in the energy range from solar wind (above about 1 keV) to low energy solar cosmic rays (about 1 MeV) are reviewed. A crude classification of the types of observed fluxes is given, and the sources of the suprathermal particle populations and energy contained in them are discussed. Among the possible interactions of these particles with the solar wind plasma, the particular interaction which generates type III solar radio bursts is analyzed.