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At least 19 records

Low-energy cosmic ray protons from nuclear interactions of cosmic rays with the interstellar medium.

The intensity of low-energy (less than 100 MeV) protons from nuclear interactions of higher-energy (above 100 MeV) cosmic rays with the interstellar medium is calculated. The resultant intensity in the 10- to 100-MeV range is larger by a factor of 3-5 than the observed proton intensity near earth. The calculated intensity from nuclear interactions constitutes a lower limit on the actual proton intensity in interstellar space.

Wang, H. T.↗

Cosmic ray proton spectra at low rigidities

The cosmic ray proton rigidity spectra have been investigated with data collected in the Low Energy Antiproton (LEAP) balloon flight experiment flown from Prince Albert, Canada in 1987. The LEAP apparatus was designed to measure antiprotons using a superconducting magnet spectrometer with ancillary scintillator, time-of-flight, and liquid Cherenkov detectors. After reaching float altitude the balloon drifted south and west to higher geomagnetic cutoffs. The effect of the changing geomagnetic cutoff on the observed spectra was observed during analysis of the proton data along the balloon trajectory. This is the first measurement of the primary and splash albedo spectra over a wide rigidity range (few hundred MV to about 100 GV) with a single instrument.

Seo, E. S.↗

The cosmic ray proton and helium spectra above 50 GeV

The primary cosmic ray proton and He spectra from 50 GeV to 2000 GeV have been measured by an ionization spectrometer flown on a balloon. At low energies, the energies of individual events are determined to within + or - 30%. At higher energies, the cascade is not fully contained within the four mean free path thick spectrometer and the problems of estimating the energies of these events are discussed. The proton spectrum continued with constant exponent = -2.7 + or - 0.1 up to energies greater than 1000 GeV. This spectrum was in agreement with the results at the low energies. There was no evidence for a spectral break at about 1000 GeV observed.

Ryan, M. J.↗

A quantitative investigation of the solar modulation of cosmic-ray protons and helium nuclei

The differential energy spectra of cosmic ray protons and He nuclei were measured at energies up to 315 MeV/nucleon using balloon-borne and satellite-borne instruments. These spectra are presented for solar quiet times for the years 1966 through 1970. The data analysis is verified by extensive accelerator calibrations of the detector systems and by calculations and measurements of the production of secondary protons in the atmosphere. The spectra of protons and He nuclei in this energy range are dominated by the solar modulation of the local interstellar spectra. Numerical solutions to the transport equation are presented for a wide range of parameters.

Garrard, T. L.↗

Cosmic ray proton and helium spectra above 50 GeV

Differential energy spectra of cosmic ray protons and helium nuclei were measured by an ionization spectrometer flown at balloon altitudes. The energy range extended from 50 GeV to above 1000 GeV. The observed differential intensities can be represented with power law spectra with a slope of -2.75 + or - 0.03 for protons and of -2.77 + or - 0.55 for helium nuclei. The proton to helium ratio is equal to 26 + or - 3 at 40 GeV/nuc and is constant within errors up to 400 GeV/nuc.

Ryan, M. J.↗