Charge states of energetic (approximate to 0.5 MeV/n) ions in corotating interaction regions at 1 AU and implications on source populations

Academic Article

Abstract

  • The ionic charge states of He, C, O, Ne, Mg and Fe at ≈0.5 MeV/n have been obtained in several corotating interaction regions (CIRs) in 1999 and 2000 with the Solar Energetic Particle Ionic Charge Analyzer (SEPICA) on the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE). A large fraction (on average 25%) of He+ is found relative to He2+, indicating a substantial contribution of interstellar pickup ions. The mean charge states of the heavy ions are consistent with those in CME related energetic particle events and in solar wind. A rather low upper limit of <1% is found for singly charged ions for C, O and Mg, while Ne shows a small, but noticeable, fraction (4.7%) of Ne+. These observations are consistent with a contribution from interstellar pickup ions, but seem to eliminate inner source pickup ions as a substantial source for CIRs at and near 1 AU.
  • Authors

  • Mobius, E
  • Morris, D
  • Popecki, MA
  • Klecker, B
  • Kistler, Lynn
  • Galvin, AB
  • Status

    Publication Date

  • January 15, 2002
  • Published In

    Digital Object Identifier (doi)

    Start Page

  • 1
  • End Page

  • 4
  • Volume

  • 29
  • Issue

  • 2