Abstract
We have surveyed the 0.5-2.0 MeV nucleon-1 ion composition of 56 interplanetary (IP) shocks observed with the Ultra-Low-Energy Isotope Spectrometer on board the Advanced Composition Explorer from 1997 October 1 through 2000 November 30. Our results show the first ever measurement (25 cases) of 3He ions being accelerated at IP shocks. The 3He/4He ratio at the 25 shocks exhibited a wide range of values between 0.0014 and 0.24; the ratios were enhanced between factors of ~3 and 600 over the solar wind value. During the survey period, the occurrence probability of 3He-rich shocks increased with rising solar activity as measured in terms of the daily occurrence rates of sunspots and X-ray flares. The 3He enhancements at IP shocks cannot be attributed to a rigidity-dependent acceleration of solar wind ions and are better explained if the shocks accelerate ions from multiple sources, one being remnant impulsive solar flare material enriched in 3He ions. Our results also indicate that the contribution of impulsive flares to the seed population for IP shocks varies from event to event and that the interplanetary medium is being replenished with impulsive material more frequently during periods of increased solar activity.
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