Solar Orbiter traces superfast electrons back to Sun (IMAGE)
Caption
Solar Orbiter observed more than 300 bursts of ‘Solar Energetic Electrons’ between November 2020 and December 2022.
For the first time, we clearly see the connection between the energetic electrons in space and their sources on the Sun.
The energetic electrons are launched by two distinct sources: solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Solar flares release quick bursts of energetic electrons, whereas coronal mass ejections release broader swells of energetic electrons more gradually.
The result is published today in Astronomy & Astrophysics, as part of a public catalogue of Solar Energetic Electron events observed by Solar Orbiter.
Credit
ESA & NASA/Solar Orbiter/STIX & EPD
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License
CC BY-SA