Spectroscopic Diagnostics and Imaging of SEP Production in Current Sheets and CME Shocks

1. CME Spectroscopic Diagnostics and Imaging of SEP Production in Current Sheets and CME Shocks Science Objectives • What are the physical processes controlling the impulsive and gradual production of solar energetic particles in solar flare/CME events? • What is the role of current sheets in the production of solar flares and coronal mass ejections? • What are the physical processes that control the heating and acceleration of fast and slow solar wind streams? • Instrumentation • Large Aperture EUV Coronagraph Spectrometer • Large Aperture Visible Coronagraph Polarimeter • EUV Telescope Spectrometer • X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, Neutron Imager • Measurement Strategy • EUV Spectroscopic Diagnostics of Current Sheets to determine in-flow velocities, reconnection rate, electric and magnetic field strengths, temperatures, thermal and kinetic energy densities. • EUV Spectroscopic Diagnostics of CME Shocks to determine CME plasma parameters including magnetic field, ion temperatures, shock onset radius, shock speed, compression ratio and Mach number. • Visible, X-Ray, Gamma, neutron imaging

2. Spectroscopic Diagnostics and Imaging of SEP Production in Current Sheets and CME Shocks Key Result or Science Justification: The key to understanding the production of solar energetic particles in current sheets and CME shocks is to obtain a quantitative physical description of the plasma and fields at these source regions and to compare the SEP output with predictions from theoretical models. Relation to NASA Exploration Vision: Solar energetic particles are known hazards to astronauts and their equipment in space. By understanding the physical processes that produce SEPs, more accurate predictive models can be developed to give adequate warning for astronauts to seek protection. Relation to NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Science: This research responds to SSSC Objectives 1) to define the origins and societal impacts of solar variability and 2) to understand fundamental physical processes. The relevant Research Focus Areas are 1) to develop the capability to predict solar activity and the evolution of solar disturbances and 2) to understand how charged particles are accelerated to high energies. Synergism with other Space Missions: These types of measurements will complement those to be made by STEREO, Solar-B, and SDO. Expected Outcome: A more complete understanding of SEP acceleration and transport Options for STP line: Instrumentation can be accommodated by a MIDEX-class or larger mission depending on the selected instrument complement.