The Coronal Suprathermal Particle Explorer (C-SPEX)

Details The Coronal Suprathermal Particle Explorer (C-SPEX) The Coronal Suprathermal Particle Explorer (C-SPEX)

May 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011spd....42.1519m&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, SPD meeting #42, #15.19; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 43, 2011

Physics

Scientific paper

The primary science objective of the Coronal Suprathermal Particle Explorer (C-SPEX) is to investigate the spatial and temporal variations of coronal suprathermal particle populations that are seeds for acceleration to solar energetic particles (SEPs). It is understood that such seed particle populations vary with coronal structures and can change responding to solar flare and coronal mass ejection (CME) events. Models have shown that higher densities of suprathermal protons can result in higher rates of acceleration to high energies. Understanding the variations in the suprathermal seed particle population is thus crucial for understanding the variations in SEPs. However, direct measurements are still lacking.
C-SPEX will measure the variation in the suprathermal protons across various coronal magnetic structures, before/after the passage of CME shocks, in the post-CME current sheets, and before/after major solar flares. The measurements will not only constrain models of SEP acceleration but also constrain models of the production of suprathermal particles from processes such as magnetic reconnection at the Sun. Understanding the causes for variation in the suprathermal seed particle population and its effect on the variation in SEPs will also help build the predictive capability of SEPs that reach Earth.
The C-SPEX measurements will be obtained from instrumentation on the International Space Station (ISS) employing well-established UV coronal spectroscopy techniques. The unique aspect of C-SPEX is a >100-fold increase of light gathering power over any previous UV coronal spectrometer. It is demonstrated C-SPEX will thus overcome the limitations in signal to noise that have thwarted prior attempts to observe suprathermals in the corona.
The present lack of a means to predict the variability of SEP intensities and the likelihood C-SPEX will help develop such predictions makes the proposed investigation directly relevant to each of the three strategic objectives of the NASA Heliophysics Research Strategic Objectives.

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