Abstract
We have surveyed the spectral and compositional properties of suprathermal (∼40–320 keV nucleon−1) heavy ions during quiet times from 1995 January 1 to 2008 December 31 using instruments on board ACE and Wind spacecraft in the interplanetary (IP) medium near 1 AU. We find that the composition of the quiet‐time suprathermal heavy ion population (3He and C‐Fe) depends on the level of solar activity: the ions exhibit SEP‐like composition signatures during solar maximum and CIR or solar‐wind like composition during solar minimum. In addition, we find that during quietest times in the IP medium, all ion species exhibit suprathermal tails with power‐law spectral indices ranging from 1.27 to 2.29, i.e., significantly different from recent observations and theoretical predictions of a unique 1.5 index. We discuss the implications of these new observations for the origin of the suprathermal ion population near 1 AU.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
