DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18145943
title: Electrons' responses to interplanetary shocks in 2024 as detected with Solar Orbiter

description: The dataset collections comprise detailed parameters and time series plots of high-energy electrons in selected energy ranges, and a specification of 69 interplanetary shock wave events (IP shocks) registered with Solar Orbiter’s instruments in 2024.

The specification of electrons’ responses comprises a qualitative evaluation of responses in three differential energy ranges in the time vicinity of each IP shock, as well as relations of particle fluxes in two differential energy bands in the IP shock’s upstream and downstream zones. The electrons’ data set allows visualisation of time series plots with a one-minute time resample in seven selected differential energy ranges in a two-hour time window for each IP shock. This dataset and high-energy electron time series plots are based on measurements of the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) suite onboard the Solar Orbiter mission for the Sun direction.

The dataset of kinetic and MHD parameters allows obtaining a graphical visualisation of each IP shock in the form of time series plots of the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field parameters over a one-hour time window relative to the identified IP shock time. The methodology for the identification of IP shocks and defining MHD parameters is described in detail by Yakovlev et al. (https://doi.org/10.1051/swsc/2025027). This dataset, along with solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field time series plots, is based on measurements of the Solar Wind Analyser (SWA) and the Magnetometer (MAG) instruments onboard the Solar Orbiter mission.

These datasets are an extension of the previous dataset of the interplanetary shock waves detected in 2023 with Solar Orbiter (https://zenodo.org/records/15535576).

The table and plots of high-energy electrons’ responses and list of IP shocks in 2024 with their kinetic and MHD parameters has been built in the framework of the research project SolO-UA “The study of solar flares and their manifestation during 25th cycle of solar activity by using the Solar Orbiter and ground radio Scientific database” executed as a part of the “Long-term program of support of the Ukrainian research teams at the Polish Academy of Sciences carried out in collaboration with the U.S. National Academy of Sciences with the financial support of external partners”

 Files:

·        SolO-2024_IPshocks&electrons.pdf – preview file providing a tabular overview of the dataset parameters for convenient online inspection

·        Solo_Electr&IPShocks-2024.zip – full dataset archived file “SolO-2024_IPshocks&electrons.xlsx”, and two folders with a) the timeseries plots of particle fluxes in selected differential energy ranges “EPD-SolO_electrons”, and b) the timeseries plots of solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field “SHOCK”

Dataset Fields description:

·        Date - indicates the date of registering the shock waves [dd/mm/yyyy];

·        IP shock time, UTC - indicates the UTC of registering the shock waves [hh:mm:ss];

·        IP shock type - indicates the shock wave type: FF (fast forward), FR (fast reverse), SF (slow forward), SR (slow reverse);

·        SolO radial distance, a.u. is the distance between the Solar Orbiter and the Sun [a.u.];

·        SolO IP shock ID - indicates the identification number of the IP shock event with the link to the timeseries plots of solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field in the archived file SolO-2024_IPshocks&electrons.xlsx;

·        rB is the magnetic-compression factor;

·        rN is the gas-compression factor;

·        βus - indicates the upstream-zone plasma-beta parameter;

·        θBn is the angle between the normal line to the shock-wave front and the interplanetary magnetic field vector [degree];

·        Ma is the Alfvenic Mach number for the upstream zone;

·        Mfms is the fast magnetosonic Mach number for the upstream zone;

·        Va is the Alfvenic velocity for the upstream zone [km/s];

·        Vsh is the velocity of the shock-wave front in the rest coordinate system [km/s]*;

*Negative values of Vsh refer to reverse types of IP shocks.

·        SolO EPD electrons ID - indicates the identification number of the electron response event with the link to the timeseries plots of particle fluxes in selected differential energy ranges in the archived file SolO-2024_IPshocks&electrons.xlsx;

·        Response of electrons in energies - indicates availability of electrons’ responses in 37-41; 94-102 and 307-336 keV differential channels for the Sun direction of the EPD sensors;

·           n/a – means absence of visible response of electron fluxes to IP shock event in the selected three energy ranges;

·        wk – means weak response of electron fluxes to IP shock event in the selected three energy ranges, with the link to the timeseries plots of particle fluxes in selected differential energy ranges in the archived file SolO-2024_IPshocks&electrons.xlsx;

·        stg – means strong response of electron fluxes to IP shock event in the selected three energy ranges, with the link to the timeseries plots of particle fluxes in selected differential energy ranges in the archived file SolO-2024_IPshocks&electrons.xlsx;

·      reu (94/307) is the ratio of electron fluxes in the differential energy ranges 94.2-102.1 keV and 306.7-335.6 keV in the upstream zone for the 5-minute, 15-minute, and 30-minute averaging spans  preceding IP shocks;

·     red (94/307) is the ratio of electron fluxes in the differential energy ranges 94.2-102.1 keV and 306.7-335.6 keV in the downstream zone for the 5-minute, 15-minute, and 30-minute averaging spans following IP shocks;