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At least 1,009 records · Page 56
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NASA NTRS1974

Predicted intensities of cosmic-ray-produced gamma-ray lines

The relative intensities of nuclear gamma-ray lines produced by inelastic collisions of low-energy cosmic ray nuclei with interstellar hydrogen have been calculated using assumed interstellar spectra which are power laws in kinetic energy. The intensity of the line at 511 keV produced by the annihilation of positrons emitted by radioactive nuclei resulting from similar collisions was also calculated. The 478 keV gamma-ray due to inelastic scattering of Li-7 is more intense than the positron line for spectral indicies Li-7 assuming that presently accepted cosmic ray abundances apply at low energies.

Rygg, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The elemental abundance ratios of interstellar secondary and primary cosmic rays

We report new observations of abundances in the charge range (Z) between 2 and 10, which were obtained with a dE/dx-Cerenkov detector launched into a polar orbit on OGO-6 as part of the Caltech Solar and Galactic Cosmic Ray Experiment. Integral rigidity spectra of all the elements observed have shapes similar to that of the helium spectrum in the rigidity range of 2 to 14 GV, approaching a power law with exponent -1.6 above 8 GV. Calculations of interstellar propagation assuming a steady-state model and including the presence of interstellar helium and the effects of solar modulation predict a variation with rigidity of ratios such as Be-O and B/O, which is not observed. The data can be explained by assuming a rigidity-dependent confinement of cosmic rays within the Galaxy.

Brown, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The cosmic ray electron spectrum and its modulation from 1968 through 1972

Over the past five years we have measured the energy spectrum of primary cosmic ray electrons with both a balloon-borne and a satellite absorption spectrometer. All of the balloon flights used identical equipment that was launched each summer from Fort Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The satellite, OGO-5, has been in an eccentric orbit since March 1968. Together these instruments provide the electron spectrum over a range of energy from 20 MeV to 20 GeV. This wide range and the substantial span of time covered by the measurements permit a detailed study of the solar modulation of electrons. These results are compared with the modulation of the nuclear components as observed by a neutron monitor and interpreted using the cosmic ray transport equation.

Fulks, G.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A relation between cosmic-ray fluctuations, gradient, and diffusion coefficient

The motion of charged particles in a stochastic magnetic field is considered via a generalized quasi-linear expansion of Liouville's equation. The result is an equation relating cosmic-ray scintillations to particle gradients and to magnetic-field fluctuations (or diffusion coefficient). The resulting theory may be regarded as an example of a fluctuation-dissipation phenomenon, in which the diffusion coefficient plays the role of the dissipative parameter. The resonant interaction between particles and the random interplanetary magnetic field is considered explicitly, and it is shown that observed scintillations of high-energy (about 1 GeV) cosmic rays may be reasonably explained by the model.

Owens, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Measurements of cosmic ray trajectories with a proportional counter hodoscope

A 50 by 50 cm, 8-layer multiwire proportional counter hodoscope has been developed for performing trajectory measurements in a large geometrical factor cosmic ray experiment. The hodoscope has a nominal position accuracy of 0.5 cm and a 1-deg angular accuracy. Data obtained from a balloon exposure show tracks of heavy cosmic rays are efficiently recovered from the copious triggers due to secondary electrons through the use of two discriminators on each wire. The spatial distribution of counts produced by secondary electrons from the iron group nuclei is compared with calculations of energy deposition from the secondaries.

Parnell, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The Fokker-Planck coefficient for pitch-angle scattering of cosmic rays

For the case of homogeneous, isotropic magnetic field fluctuations, it is shown that most theories which are based on the quasi-linear and adiabatic approximations yield the same integral for the Fokker-Planck coefficient for the pitch-angle scattering of cosmic rays. For example, despite apparent differences, the theories due to Jokipii and to Klimas and Sandri yield the same integral. It is also shown, however, that this integral in most cases has been evaluated incorrectly in the past. For small pitch angles, the errors in previous evaluations are fortuitously of minor importance. For large pitch angles, however, these errors become more significant; and for pitch angles of 90 deg, the actual Fokker-Planck coefficient contains a delta function which has been overlooked in the past. The implications of these corrections on the possibility of relating cosmic-ray diffusion coefficients to observed properties of the interplanetary magnetic field are discussed.

Fisk, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A time-dependent diffusion convection model for the long term modulation of cosmic rays

A model is developed which incorporates to first order the direct effects of the time dependent diffusive propagation of interstellar cosmic rays in a slowly changing interplanetary medium. The model provides a physical explanation for observed rigidity-dependent phase lags in modulated spectra (cosmic ray hysteresis). The average distance to the modulating boundary during the last solar cycle is estimated.

Gallagher, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

High energy galactic gamma radiation from cosmic rays concentrated in spiral arms

A model for the emission of high energy ( 100 MeV) gamma rays from the galactic disk was developed and compared to recent SAS-2 observations. In the calculation, it is assumed that (1) the high energy galactic gamma rays result primarily from the interaction of cosmic rays with galactic matter; (2) on the basis of theoretical and experimental arguments the cosmic ray density is proportional to the matter density on the scale of galactic arms; and (3) the matter in the galaxy, atomic and molecular, is distributed in a spiral pattern consistent with density wave theory and the experimental data on the matter distribution.

Bignami, G. F.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Theory of cosmic ray variations

The initial anisotropic and isotropic spaces of solar cosmic ray spreading in interplanetary space are compared with the results of direct observations in the region adjacent to the earth's orbit and with the results of explorations of the eleven-year and twenty-seven-day variations of the cosmic rays in more distant regions.

Dorman, L. I.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The cosmic ray burst on 28 January 1967

The solar cosmic ray flare which took place on January 28, 1967, is analyzed. Energy responses and the diffusion coefficient are determined. Periodic variations of the cosmic rays with an amplitude of 0.10 to 0.20% and a period of 35 to 40 min are discovered during the decrease phase of the flare.

Chirkov, N. P.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The effect of cosmic rays on thunderstorm electricity

The inflow of charges of small ions, formed by cosmic rays, into thunderstorm cells is estimated on the basis of rocket measurements of ionic concentrations below 90 km. Out of the two processes that form the thunderstorm charge (generation and separation of charges), the former is supposed to be caused by cosmic rays, and the nature of separation is assumed to be the same as in other thunderstorm theories.

Bragin, Y. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A study of cosmic rays on the artificial moon satellites Luna-11 and Luna-12

In the period from the end of August 1966 to January 1967 the primary cosmic radiation fluxes beyond the terrestrial magnetosphere were measured by means of the equipment mounted on the satellites Luna-11 and Luna-12. The altitude dependence of cosmic rays near the lunar surface as well as the intensity of protons and electrons of solar origin in the moon's vicinity were determined. The correlation of proton intensity with the parameters characterizing the solar and geomagnetic activities and the specific features of the angular distribution of the proton flux as revealed during measurements are given. Data on electron fluxes studied on September 1 and 8, 1966, when short term increases in the electron intensity were observed are included.

Grigorov, N. L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Installation for the study of the angular distribution of cosmic muons with super-high energies at large zenith angles

An installation consisting of an ionization calorimeter and a counter hodoscope can be used to record cascade showers caused by the electromagnetic interactions of muons with superhigh energies in the cosmic ray horizontal flux. The direction of the muons is determined by a hodoscope consisting of 2196 counters. The information obtained makes it possible to restore the angular and energy distribution of the cosmic muons, which, in turn, makes it possible to determine the mechanism of their generation. The accuracy with which the angle of the passing particle is determined is discussed in detail in addition to the causes which can introduce distortions, such as shower accompaniment of neutrons, escape of shower electrons from the calorimeter, random coincidences, etc.

Borog, V. V.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Determination of coupling coefficients at various zenith angles of the basis of the cosmic ray azimuth effect

The value of EW asymmetry and coupling coefficients at different zenith angles were measured by means of a double coincidence crossed telescope which gives an opportunity to measure simultaneously the intensity of the cosmic ray hard component at zenith angles from 0 to 84 deg in opposite azimuths. The advantages of determining the coupling coefficients by the cosmic ray azimuth effect as compared to their measurement by the latitudinal effect are discussed.

Belskiy, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A dynamic model for the time evolution of the modulated cosmic ray spectrum

A recently developed model predicts an energy dependent phase lag in the modulated cosmic ray density U(t) given by U(t) approximately equal to US (t - tau) where US is the solution to the Fokker-Planck equation under time independent conditions and tau is the average time spent by particles inside the modulating region. The delay times tau are functions of modulating parameters R (the radius of the modulating cavity), V (the solar wind velocity), and K (the effective average diffusion-coefficient which is a function of energy). This model is applied to predict the time evolution of the modulated cosmic ray proton spectrum over a simulated solar cycle. A modulation produced mostly by varying R over the solar cycle is less consistent with the observations.

Ogallagher, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Observations of nitrogen and oxygen isotopes in the low energy cosmic rays

The isotopic composition of low-energy nitrogen and oxygen cosmic rays was measured with an electron/isotope spectrometer aboard the IMP-7 satellite to determine the possible source of the particles. Instrument calibration showed the standard range-energy tables to be inadequate to calculate the isotope response, and corrections were obtained. The low-energy nitrogen and oxygen cosmic rays were found to be primarily 14N and 16O. Upper limits were obtained for the abundances of the other stable nitrogen and oxygen isotopes. The nitrogen composition differs from higher energy measurements which indicate that 15N, which is thought to be secondary, is the dominant isotope.

Vidor, S. B.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Selected Theoretical Studies Group contributions to the 14th International Cosmic Ray conference

The galactic distribution of H2 was studied through gamma radiation and through X-ray, optical, and infrared absorption measurements from SAS-2 and other sources. A comparison of the latitude distribution of gamma-ray intensity with reddening data shows reddening data to give the best estimate of interstellar gas in the solar vicinity. The distribution of galactic cosmic ray nucleons was determined and appears to be identical to the supernova remnant distribution. Interactions between ultrahigh energy cosmic-ray nuclei and intergalactic photon radiation fields were calculated, using the Monte Carlo method.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1974

Solar flare proton rigidity spectra deduced from cosmic ray neutron monitor observations

The solar flare proton rigidity spectra for several flares occurring between 1967 and 1972 have been deduced from the ground level cosmic ray neutron monitor observations. To obtain consistent agreement for all the ground level events (GLEs) analyzed, the specific yield functions of Lockwood and Webber (1967) must be reduced slightly below P = 1.6 GV. The typical spectral indices of solar cosmic rays deduced for GLEs vary from 4 to 6 if the differential spectrum is represented by KP to the minus gamma power. Only occasionally is the spectrum as steep as 8 or 9. The observed spectral index is independent of the magnitude of the integral solar proton flux above 1 GV.

Lockwood, J. A.↗