New Parameter in the Description of Solar Cosmic Ray Events—Energy of Balance between Solar and Galactic Protons

Solar proton events possess a wide variety of features that reflect the conditions of solar proton acceleration and propagation. Relevant investigations rely on statistical methods that make it possible to classify events with the aim of obtaining deeper insight into physical processes leading to the generation of solar cosmic rays. In classifying events in power, the intensity of particles with energy above 10MeV at the maximum of the event time profile or the fluence of particles throughout the event time is usually used. A new parameter, E_qm, that characterizes the proton event power and which is some kind of approximation of the maximum energy of accelerated particles is analyzed in the present study. Correlations of E_qm with properties of x-ray flares on the Sun and with the velocity of coronal mass ejections are examined.