Do Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) Events Influence the Formation of the V₀ Layer in the Venusian Ionosphere?

This study investigates the potential impact of Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) on the V 0 layer of the Venus ionosphere. Electron density profiles obtained from radio occultation experiments conducted by the Venus Express (VEX) and Akatsuki missions were utilized for this purpose. Background data from the Analyzer of Space Plasma and EneRgetic Atoms (ASPERA‐4) aboard VEX were used to detect SEP events. Additionally, observations from the Space Environment Monitor (SEM) suite onboard the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) during alignments of Venus, Earth, and the Sun were also considered. Our findings indicate that while SEPs may contribute to the formation of the V 0 layer, they are not the main driving force in the Venusian ionosphere.