Solar energetic particle

A high-energy proton, electron, or heavier ion accelerated by solar eruptions or shocks. Solar energetic particles can travel through interplanetary space and pose radiation hazards to spacecraft and astronauts.

Solar flare: A sudden release of magnetic energy in the Sun’s atmosphere, producing radiation and often accelerating particles. Flare-associated particles can be accelerated during magnetic energy release.
Proton: A positively charged subatomic particle found in atomic nuclei. Protons are usually the most abundant species in solar energetic particle events.
Space weather: Conditions in space driven by solar activity and its effects on planetary environments and technology. Solar energetic particles are one hazardous component of space weather.
Galactic cosmic ray: A high-energy particle originating outside the Solar System, often accelerated by supernova remnants. Galactic cosmic rays form a persistent background, unlike episodic solar particle events.
Coronal mass ejection: A large eruption of magnetized plasma from the Sun’s outer atmosphere into interplanetary space. Fast ejections drive shocks that accelerate particles over extended regions.
Electron: A negatively charged subatomic particle with much less mass than a proton. Energetic electrons often arrive sooner than ions and reveal different transport conditions.
Radiation hazard: A risk of harmful exposure to ionizing radiation for people, organisms, or equipment. Large particle events can deliver damaging radiation doses in space.
Anomalous cosmic ray: A cosmic-ray population formed when interstellar neutral atoms enter the heliosphere, become ionized, and are accelerated. Its heliospheric origin differs from acceleration in solar eruptions and shocks.
Diffusive shock acceleration: A process in which particles gain energy through repeated crossings of a shock front. It explains how CME-driven shocks can produce energetic particle populations.
Heavy ion: An ion whose nucleus contains more than one proton and is heavier than hydrogen. Solar energetic particle populations include ions such as helium, oxygen, and iron.

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