On the Size of the Flare Associated with the Solar Proton Event in 774 AD

The 774 AD solar proton event (SPE) detected in cosmogenic nuclides had an inferred >1 GV (>430 MeV) fluence estimated to have been ∼30-70 times larger than that of the 1956 February 23 ground level event (GLE). The 1956 GLE was itself ∼2.5 times larger at >430 MeV than the episode of strong GLE activity from 1989 August-October. We use an inferred soft X-ray (SXR) class of X20 ± 10 for the 1956 February 23 eruptive flare as a bridge to the source flare for the 774 SPE. A correlation of the >200 MeV proton fluences of hard-spectra post-1975 GLEs with the SXR peak fluxes of their associated flares yields an SXR flare class of X285 ± 140 (bolometric energy of ∼(1.9 ± 0.7) × 10³³ erg) for the 774 flare. This estimate is within theoretical determinations of the largest flare the Sun could produce based on the largest spot group yet observed. Assuming a single eruptive flare source for the 774 SPE, the above estimate indicates that the Sun can produce a threshold-level 10³³ erg superflare. If the 774 event originated in two closely timed, equal-fluence SPEs, the inferred flare size drops to X180 ± 90 (∼(1.4 ± 0.5) × 10³³ erg). We speculate on favorable solar conditions that can lead to enhanced shock acceleration of high-energy protons in eruptive flares.