SPACE AND COSMIC RAY PHYSICS SEMINAR

University of Maryland
Atlantic Building, Room 2400 4:30 PM Monday, September 26, 2005
Coffee, Tea & Snacks 4:15-4:30 PM

George Simnett
University of Birmingham

Observational Insights Into Solar Particle Acceleration To Relativistic Energies And The Relevance To Flare Energetics

Studies of relativistic solar electrons reveal three distinct types of acceleration mechanism. It is likely that these mechanisms also accelerate protons. We present justification for these ideas, which are supported by the observation of a short burst of relativistic protons from the 20 January 2005 ground level event. One conclusion is that the highest energy protons are accelerated at or near the flare site, and a new concept for solar flares consistent with all the above ideas is presented