Sunward Streaming 3He-rich SEP Events Observed by Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe during Perihelion Passage

TL;DR

This study reports the first multi-spacecraft observation of sunward streaming 3He-rich solar energetic particles, revealing their redirection by a CME and travel path lengths exceeding expectations, with implications for SEP propagation models.

Contribution

It provides new evidence of sunward streaming 3He-rich SEPs and their interaction with CMEs, enhancing understanding of SEP transport and magnetic connectivity.

Findings

Sunward streaming 3He-rich SEPs observed by Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe.

SEP travel path lengths exceed 2-8 times the nominal Parker spiral expectations.

SEPs likely redirected by a CME originating from active region 13615.

Abstract

We report on two 3He-rich solar energetic particle (SEP) events observed by Solar Orbiter (SO) and Parker Solar Probe (PSP) during the April 1 - 4, 2024 conjunction when both spacecraft are within 0.3 AU near their respective perihelion passage. The two 3He-rich SEP events, originating from active region (AR) 13615, exhibit two key anomalies: (1) sunward streaming SEPs and (2) SEP travel path lengths exceeding 2 - 8 times the nominal Parker spiral expectations. Remote observations suggest these SEPs have been redirected by a slow coronal mass ejection (CME) that also originated from AR 13615 two days prior on March 30, 2024 at 21:04 UT. Using the near-Sun CME speed and width measurements, we estimate its size and location at the onset time of the first 3He-rich SEP event. Based on our estimates, SEPs propagating around the ICME front have travelled between 0.76 - 0.95 AU when they arrive at SO, increasing to 0.94 - 1.1 AU at PSP, consistent with our observed SEP arrival times. These findings constitute the first multi-spacecraft observation of sunward streaming 3He-rich SEPs. We discuss the implications of this phenomenon on 3He-rich seed material and the rare widespread 3He-rich SEP events (see Section 5.4).