Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
May 1977
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1977apj...213..849c&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, vol. 213, May 1, 1977, p. 849-860.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
23
Abundance, Helium Isotopes, Hydrogen Isotopes, Solar Cosmic Rays, Spallation, Thermonuclear Reactions, Deuterium, Light Elements, Plasma Density, Rarefied Plasmas, Solar Flares, Solar X-Rays, Tritium
Scientific paper
Various explanations are examined for the isotopic composition of H and He in certain solar cosmic-ray events where a large He-3/He-4 ratio is observed but D and T are absent. Observational data pertaining to the H, D, T, He-3, and He-4 composition of matter expelled from solar flares are reviewed, and three hypotheses are tentatively analyzed. First, it is assumed that the matter in a flare originates in deep central regions where hydrogen-burning reactions have increased the He-3/He-4 ratio; this mechanism is shown to be unsatisfactory since the maximum He-3/He-4 ratio inside the sun is too low. Second, the possibility is ruled out that spallation reactions between H and He-4 occur inside the solar convection zone, where the resultant D and T are destroyed. Finally, it is suggested that spallation reactions in the solar corona lead to preferential trapping of the spallation products, which are confined for long enough times to be modified by thermonuclear processes at kT of about 200 keV and are later accelerated and released as He-3-rich and D-depleted flares.
Audouze Jean
Colgate Sterling A.
Fowler William A.
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