Localised acceleration of energetic particles by a weak shock in the solar corona

TL;DR

This study shows that even very weak shocks in the solar corona can accelerate energetic particles locally through magnetic field reconfiguration, challenging the idea that only strong shocks are effective.

Contribution

It provides observational evidence of particle acceleration by a weak shock with a Mach number near 1.01, highlighting the role of magnetic topology in the process.

Findings

Weak shock with Mach number ~1.008-1.013 observed.

Localized type III radio emissions indicate electron acceleration.

Magnetic field reconfiguration facilitates particle acceleration.

Abstract

Globally-propagating shocks in the solar corona have long been studied to quantify their involvement in the acceleration of energetic particles. However, this work has tended to focus on large events associated with strong solar flares and fast coronal mass ejections (CMEs), where the waves are sufficiently fast to easily accelerate particles to high energies. Here we present observations of particle acceleration associated with a global wave event which occurred on 1 October 2011. Using differential emission measure analysis, the global shock wave was found to be incredibly weak, with an Alfv\'en Mach number of ~1.008-1.013. Despite this, spatially-resolved type III radio emission was observed by the Nan\c{c}ay RadioHeliograph at distinct locations near the shock front, suggesting localised acceleration of energetic electrons. Further investigation using a magnetic field extrapolation identified a fan structure beneath a magnetic null located above the source active region, with the erupting CME contained within this topological feature. We propose that a reconfiguration of the coronal magnetic field driven by the erupting CME enabled the weak shock to accelerate particles along field lines initially contained within the fan and subsequently opened into the heliosphere, producing the observed type III emission. These results suggest that even weak global shocks in the solar corona can accelerate energetic particles via reconfiguration of the surrounding magnetic field.