Scientists have utilized ESA's Solar Orbiter to identify and trace the origins of high-speed electrons emitted by the Sun, distinguishing between impulsive events from solar flares and gradual events from coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

This comprehensive study, the largest of its kind, analyzed over 300 solar energetic electron (SEE) events from November 2020 to December 2022 using eight of Solar Orbiter's ten instruments, creating an accessible database for the scientific community.

Thanks to Solar Orbiter's close proximity to the Sun, researchers could measure particles in their early stages, pinpointing when and where electrons are released during solar events.

ESA's Daniel Müller emphasizes that this knowledge will improve spacecraft protection by enhancing understanding of the energetic particles emitted by the Sun.

These findings deepen our understanding of solar activity and space weather, which is vital for safeguarding space assets and supporting future missions like ESA's Vigil, Smile, and international collaborations.

Distinguishing between impulsive and gradual electron events is critical for space weather prediction, as CME-related events are more energetic and pose a greater threat to spacecraft, satellites, and astronauts.

Since its launch in 2020, Solar Orbiter has been observing solar events from close range, building a valuable database that will be further utilized by ESA's Vigil mission, planned for 2031, to detect hazardous solar activity before it impacts Earth.

The study showcases Solar Orbiter's unique capabilities, having observed hundreds of SEE events over five years, providing essential data for understanding solar phenomena.

Researchers observed a delay between the occurrence of SEE on the Sun and their detection in space, caused by particles traveling through turbulent solar wind and scattering effects.

This time lag, influenced by turbulence and magnetic field interactions, affects space weather forecasting by delaying the detection of energetic electrons after solar eruptions.

The research explains the delay in detecting SEEs following solar flares or CMEs, attributing it to travel time and scattering effects in the solar wind, which are crucial for accurate space weather predictions.