Mixed particle acceleration at CME-driven shocks and flares

Li, G. and G. P. Zank, Mixed particle acceleration at CME-driven shocks and flares, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L02101 (2005) (ADS)

The cartoon

(click on the image for a larger version)

An important cartoon aimed at explaining the intricacies of particle acceleration by CME-driven shock waves. These had been shown to have different populations and spectra depending upon what had happened before the event. A "seed population" of ions in non-thermal tail distributions could explain some of these effects. Hence this cartoon shows two consecutive CMEs loading up the low corona with ready-to-accelerate ions. This idea possibly has some credibility, but of course we have no real knowledge of the magnetic geometry or of the particle distribution functions where this might happen. Immediate responses to this cartoon's appearance pointed out systematic discrepancies, and active discussion continues. Note that this is not "CME cannibalism" of one CME by another, in the sense of a magnetic interaction.

Date: 2021 August 20