Topical Discussion Meeting - High-energy Solar Energetic Particle Events

Athanasios Papaioannou (National Observatory of Athens), Stepan Poluianov (University of Oulu), Alex Mishev (University of Oulu)
Thursday 30/11, 17:15 - 18:30, Permeke

Recent studies have found a type of Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events with a high-energy tail, that are either recorded by only polar high-altitude neutron monitors (NMs) or onboard spacecraft. Traditionally, ground-level enhancements (GLEs) comprise the high-energy tail of SEPs and constitute a special class of events in which ions are accelerated to relativistic energies, causing a significant sudden increase of cosmic rays at ground-based detectors, mainly at NMs. The high-energy SEP events are associated with both fast coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and intense solar flares (SFs). Given the new developments, a (possible) sub category, often termed as "sub-GLEs" has emerged in the scientific literature. In this Topical Discussion we propose to address the following points: [a] Review the current state of knowledge on GLEs. Discuss definition of a sub-GLE class (in terms of energy or identification) and thus provide the basis for a discussion on terminology of sub-GLEs; [b] Discuss how high energy SEPs that reach to relativistic energies but are not recorded at Earth, can be included under the category of sub-GLEs (or these should constitute a new category of events). We cordially invite anyone who is interested in the above questions, either from the NM or the spacecraft recordings perspective to attend this session.

AGENDA

INTRODUCTION to TDM and MOTIVATION

MINUTES