The Solar Cycle Variability of Solar Energetic Particle Composition

Abstract

Solar particle isotopic composition varies greatly from event to event, apparently due to mass fractionation during particle acceleration and/or transport. We examine whether the amount of this variability changes during the solar cycle and find a strong indication of less isotopic compositional variability at solar maximum than during less active phases. There also seems to be a similar but weaker association using elemental abundances. The underlying cause of the variability and reasons why it might change over the solar cycle are yet to be determined.

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