Cross calibration of SOHO ~1 GV proton and helium fluxes with PAMELA and AMS-02
Abstract
Reliable measurements of Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) and Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) requirewell-calibrated spaceborne particle instruments. This study presents a cross-calibration of theElectron, Proton and Helium Instrument (EPHIN) aboard SOHO with high-precision proton and heliummeasurements from PAMELA and AMS-02. The analysis extends the established $\Delta E$--$\Delta E$technique to later mission phases, accounting for detector aging and changes in instrument responseafter 2017.A GEANT4-based model of EPHIN, including a simplified representation of the SOHO spacecraft, is usedto derive energy response functions for penetrating protons and helium nuclei. Simulated detectorresponses based on force-field–modulated GCR spectra reproduce the observed EPHIN energy-lossdistributions within about 30\%. Effective energies and fluxes are obtained using a bow-tie inversionmethod and compared with AMS-02 and PAMELA observations during quiet solar conditions. The resultsshow agreement within the combined systematic uncertainties, demonstrating that SOHO/EPHINcontinues to provide valuable and reliable energetic particle measurements for long-termheliospheric studies.The EPHIN is supported under Grant 50~OC~2302 by the German Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft through the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR). We acknowledge partial support from the Horizon Europe Program project SPEARHEAD (GA 101135044).
Fields of Study & Subjects
Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
Particle Detector Development and Performance
Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
Publication details
- Journal / source
- EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts
- Publication date
- 14 March 2026
- Language
- EN