Published in

American Astronomical Society, Astrophysical Journal, 1(902), p. 20, 2020

DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/abb2a4

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Small Electron Events Observed by Parker Solar Probe/IS⊙IS during Encounter 2

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Red circle
Preprint: archiving forbidden
Red circle
Postprint: archiving forbidden
Green circle
Published version: archiving allowed
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Abstract The current understanding of the characteristics of solar and inner heliospheric electron events is inferred almost entirely from observations made by spacecraft located at 1 astronomical unit (au). Previous observations within 1 au of the Sun, by the Helios spacecraft at ∼0.3–1 au, indicate the presence of electron events that are not detected at 1 au or may have merged during transport from the Sun. Parker Solar Probe’s close proximity to the Sun at perihelion provides an opportunity to make the closest measurements yet of energetic electron events. We present an overview of measurements of electrons with energies between ∼17 keV and ∼1 MeV made by the Parker Solar Probe Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (IS⊙IS) instrument suite during Encounter 2 (2019 March 31–April 10 with perihelion of ∼0.17 au), including several small electron events. We examine these events in the context of the electromagnetic and solar wind environment measured by the FIELDS and SWEAP instruments on Parker Solar Probe. We find most of these electron enhancements to be associated with type III radio emissions that reach the local plasma frequency and one enhancement that appears to be primarily associated with abrupt changes in the local magnetic field. Together, these associations suggest that these are indeed the first measurements of energetic electron events within 0.2 au.