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OSSE ABSTRACT

Gamma-Ray Measurement of Energetic Heavy Ions at the Sun


G.H. Share and R.J. Murphy

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We have derived the gamma-ray line spectra from accelerated heavy ions at the Sun in data from the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) Gamma Ray Spectrometer and the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) OSSE instrument. These lines are Doppler-broadened and, perhaps shifted, reflecting the transport of the particles. They provide the only source of information on the composition of accelerated heavy ions at the Sun. Analysis of the integrated spectrum from 19 flares suggests that accelerated Fe is enhanced by about a factor of five over its ambient abundance. Future measurements with CGRO can be compared with observations of solar energetic particles by ACE.