SOLAR FLARE ALPHA TO PROTON RATIO CHANGES FOLLOWING INTERPLANETARY DISTURBANCES

A discussion is presented on the half hour averaged low energy solar alpha to solar proton flux ratios observed following the three large solar flares of May 23, 1967. One of the large changes observed in the particle ratios (following a sudden commencement (SC) storm observed on the earth) is interpreted as due to a source effect. The second large change, again observed following an SC, is observed in the equal velocity and equal rigidity ratios and not in the equal energy/charge ratios. This observation suggests that electric fields in an interplanetary disturbance may be the cause of the modulations. © 1969 D. Reidel Publishing Company.