Microwave signature of relativistic positrons in solar flares

Gregory Fleishman, Alexander T. Altyntsev, Nataliia S. Meshalkina

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Relativistic antiparticles can be created in high-energy nuclear interactions; thus, the detection of antiparticles in an astrophysical source can tell us something remarkable about the underlying high-energy processes and nuclear interactions. However, once created, the antiparticles remain a minor fraction of their conjugant normal particles, so the detection of the antiparticles represents a big science challenge. To address this challenge we employ the imaging and polarimetry of microwave radiation produced as the positrons gyrate in the ambient magnetic field. The key property of the radiation used in this method is that the oppositely charged particles, electrons and positrons, produce radiation with opposite helicity, easily distinguishable by currently operating radio facilities. Analysis of available spatially resolved microwave data augmented by independent magnetic field measurements allows us to remotely detect the relativistic positron component in several solar flares

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberS7
JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan
Volume65
Issue numberSUPPL
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 5 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • Abundances
  • Nuclear reactions
  • Nucleosynthesis
  • Polarization
  • Radiation mechanisms: non-thermal
  • Sun: flares
  • Sun: radio radiation

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