SHINE: Remote Observations of Accelerated Particles Interacting at the Sun

University Of Maryland, College Park, College Park MD

Investigators

Abstract

The Principal Investigator (PI) will study the characteristics of particles that interact at the Sun during and following eruptive flares and CMEs by measuring the resulting gamma-ray emission observed by various spacecraft. The launch of the Fermi spacecraft in 2008 has provided an instrument sensitive enough to monitor the flux of cosmic-ray protons and electrons near the Sun on nearly a daily basis. These Fermi observations provide information on solar modulation of particle fluxes in the inner heliosphere and detect the presence of energetic solar-accelerated ions and electrons for hours following solar eruptive events. The PI will perform spectral and energetic analysis to reveal the contribution of solar-flare-accelerated particles to fluxes of interplanetary particles. This data analysis will yield information on the primary acceleration and particle transport mechanisms in the inner heliosphere, and will allow the properties of energetic near-Sun particles to be compared with those of particle properties measured in deep space. The PI's analysis of flare-accelerated and cosmic-ray particles near the Sun will be published in refereed journals and will be presented at annual science meetings and in seminars. This research will provide a better understanding of the origin of solar energetic particles, and this will benefit society through improved space weather predictions for the protection of satellites and astronauts. As a member of the Fermi research team, the PI will also contribute to the professional development of young scientists by working closely with graduate students and postdoctoral scholars from various countries in the analysis of gamma-ray data collected by the Fermi spacecraft. In addition, the PI will collaborate with a colleague at the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC to mentor high school students involved in a summer internship program.