Cross-Field Diffusion Effects on Particle Transport in a Solar Coronal Flux Rope

TL;DR

This study models how cross-field diffusion influences the confinement and escape of energetic particles within a solar coronal flux rope, revealing that even small perpendicular mean free paths enable outer particles to escape, affecting space weather predictions.

Contribution

Introduces the COCONUT+PARADISE model to analyze particle confinement and cross-field diffusion effects within a CME flux rope in the solar corona.

Findings

Particles trapped without CFD remain confined; CFD allows outer particles to escape.

Perpendicular MFP influences particle escape, especially for outer layers.

Modeling results are relevant for understanding particle transport from the corona to the heliosphere.

Abstract

Solar energetic particles (SEPs) associated with solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are key agents of space weather phenomena, posing severe threats to spacecraft and astronauts. Recent observations by Parker Solar Probe (PSP) indicate that the magnetic flux ropes of a CME can trap energetic particles and act as barriers, preventing other particles from crossing. In this paper, we introduce the novel COCONUT+PARADISE model to investigate the confinement of energetic particles within a flux rope and the effects of cross-field diffusion (CFD) on particle transport in the solar corona, particularly in the presence of a CME. Using the global magnetohydrodynamic coronal model COCONUT, we generate background configurations containing a CME modeled as a Titov-D\'emoulin flux rope (TDFR). We then utilize the particle transport code PARADISE to inject monoenergetic 100 keV protons inside one of the TDFR legs near its footpoint and evolve the particles through the COCONUT backgrounds. To study CFD, we employ two different approaches regarding the perpendicular proton mean free path (MFP): a constant MFP and a Larmor radius-dependent MFP. We contrast these results with those obtained without CFD. While particles remain fully trapped within the TDFR without CFD, we find that even relatively small perpendicular MFP values allow particles on the outer layers to escape. In contrast, the initially interior trapped particles stay largely confined. Finally, we highlight how our model and this paper's results are relevant for future research on particle acceleration and transport in an extended domain encompassing both the corona and inner heliosphere.