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Garcia-Munoz, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Garcia-Munoz, M..

At least 55 records · Page 3

The isotopic composition of neon and magnesium in the low energy cosmic rays

The ratios Ne-22/Ne-20 and Mg-26/Mg-24 were measured in galactic cosmic rays by the IMP-7 satellite in the 60 to 230 MeV/nucleon range. The neon cosmic ray source ratio Ne-22/Ne-20 is about 0.38, which is much larger than the current solar system relationship; the Mg data agrees with the solar system isotopic ratio of 0.14 at the cosmic ray source. The Ne and Mg source ratios are explained by supernova models, and become a new constraint which should be satisfied by any model of cosmic ray origin.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

The isotopes of neon in the galactic cosmic rays

The paper examines the results obtained by the University of Chicago instrument on board the IMP 7 satellite used to measure the abundances of Ne-20 and Ne-22 in the galactic cosmic rays during 1973-1977, over the general energy range of 60-230 MeV per nucleon. It is reported that the instrument shows a mass resolution of 0.7 amu(sigma) which was confirmed by calibrating a backup instrument at the LBL Bevalac with separated beams of neon isotopes. Through the use of standard solar modulation and cosmic-ray propagation models, the cosmic-ray source ratio inferred is Ne-22/Ne-20 = 0.38 = or -0.07 which is significantly greater than the present solar system ratio. It is concluded that propagation effects or cross-section uncertainties cannot account for such a large abundance of Ne-22, and thus this measurement provides evidence that the cosmic rays come from a source region where the Ne-22 abundance is substantially greater than in solar system material.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

The relative abundances of the elements silicon through nickel in the low energy galactic cosmic rays

Measurements of the relative abundances of the elements Si through Ni in galactic cosmic rays in the energy interval 72 to 450 MeV/nucleon are reported based on data collected by a cosmic-ray telescope on the IMP 8 satellite. The measured abundances are compared with propagation calculations using various distributions of path lengths. It is found that the measurements favor an exponential distribution of path lengths truncated at short path lengths. The source abundances of Si, Ca, Fe, and Ni derived by extrapolating the measured abundances back to the source are shown to be comparable to the solar-system abundances. The relevance of the measurements of Sc through Mn to the Mn-54 radioactive decay is examined.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

Charge and energy spectra of heavy cosmic rays at intermediate energies

The energy spectra and the charge composition of the primary elements C, O, Ne, Mg, and Si have been measured in both the low-energy and high-energy modes of the University of Chicago telescope on board the IMP 8 spacecraft. Combining both modes of analysis yields differential energy spectra for each element from about 50 MeV/nucleon to about 1 GeV/nucleon. The charge ratios with respect to oxygen are found to be energy independent over this interval and are consistent with the results of cosmic-ray propagation and solar-modulation calculations. The relative abundances obtained are in substantial agreement with previous investigations in this energy regime.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

The isotopic composition of galactic cosmic ray lithium, beryllium and boron

The isotopic composition of galactic-cosmic-ray Li, Be, and B has been measured near 100 MeV/nucleon by using the University of Chicago IMP 7 and IMP 8 cosmic-ray telescopes during 1973-1975. The measured abundances allow detailed checks of models of interstellar propagation and solar modulation to be made and conclusions to be drawn concerning the spectral forms at the source and the minimum solar modulation level. For example, comparing these results with local interstellar spectra calculated by using a 'leaky box' model, it is found that if solar modulation is ignored, there is no unique leakage mean free path consistent with all the observations. However, by taking account of a sizable level of residual solar modulation, excellent agreement is obtained between the calculated and measured abundances. Thus, these isotopic abundances confirm the old hypothesis that cosmic-ray Li, Be, and B are produced as secondaries in interstellar space.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

The appearance of super fluxes of quiet time cosmic rays

By 1975, it was found that the low-energy H and He fluxes had continued to rise to a point where they exceeded significantly the 1965 levels reported by Garcia-Munoz at al. (1977). In the present paper, it is shown that this trend continued into 1976, and that at least some of the phenomena observed during the 1972-1976 period were not present in 1965.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

The age of the galactic cosmic rays derived from the abundance of Be-10

Satellite measurements of the abundance of the Be-10 isotope in galactic cosmic rays are used to determine the cosmic-ray lifetime for escape. The data are analyzed by employing a technique based on an extensive calibration of a cosmic-ray telescope with the aid of high-energy Be beams accelerated in a bevatron. It is found that the Be-10/Be abundance ratio at 80 MeV/nucleon is 0.028 + or - 0.104. A comparison of this result with calculations based on a homogeneous steady-state model of galactic cosmic-ray confinement and propagation yields an average interstellar density of 0.18 (+0.18, -0.11) atom/cu cm and a corresponding cosmic-ray lifetime of 17 (+24, -8) million years after solar modulation is taken into account. The low average density traversed by the cosmic rays is shown to suggest that the particles may be spending the major part of their existence in regions of very low matter density. The consequences of these results are discussed for models of cosmic-ray propagation in the Galaxy, including such alternatives as propagation in a galactic halo or in regions of interstellar space where the interstellar gas density is very low.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

New aspects of the cosmic-ray modulation in 1974-1975 near solar minimum

Residual cosmic-ray modulation at or near the solar minima of 1965 and 1972-75 is compared on the basis of ground-based and satellite observations of nonrelativistic proton and helium components as well as variations in the relativistic component. It is found that the nonrelativistic fluxes lagged behind the high-energy fluxes to form a hysteresis loop over the period from 1965 to 1973, that the 1975 proton fluxes were about 85% higher than the 1972 level and about 35% higher than the 1965 level, and that the 1975 helium fluxes were about 60% higher than in 1965. Some unique recovery events are discussed, and a time-lag effect dependent on magnetic rigidity is examined which was associated with dynamic changes in the heliosphere. A qualitative explanation is offered for the hysteresis effect.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

The cosmic-ray age deduced from the Be-10 abundance

Satellite measurements of the radioactive cosmic-ray species Be-10 are reported. The abundance was measured near 100 MeV per nucleon with high-resolution solid-state telescopes on the IMP-7 and IMP-8 satellites during 1973 and 1974. These two independent measurements yield Be-10/Be ratios of less than 10 percent. Taken together with a galactic propagation model, these results show that the cosmic-ray 'clock' lifetime (most probable value of the order of 20 million years) is significantly greater than that deduced for a nominal interstellar gas density of the order of 1 to 3 atoms per cu cm.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

The isotopic composition of galactic cosmic-ray lithium, beryllium, and boron

The isotopes of cosmic-ray Li, Be, and B near 100 MeV per nucleon have been measured with cosmic-ray telescopes on board the IMP-7 and IMP-8 satellites during 1973 and 1974. The measured isotopic abundances provide a stringent test for models of interstellar propagation and solar modulation. It is found that the isotopic abundances can be explained using a steady-state interstellar propagation model with a 5-g/sq cm leakage mean free path. These results, taken along with Be-10 abundance measurements, indicate a longer lifetime for cosmic rays than that predicted by the usual assumption of an average interstellar density of 1 to 3 atoms per cu cm.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

Energy dependence of the Si/Fe ratio in the galactic cosmic rays

New measurements are reported of the Si/Fe ratio and the differential energy spectra of galactic cosmic-ray Si and Fe, taking into account the energy range from 35 MeV to 4 GeV per nucleon. The measured data were obtained with the aid of satellite and balloon-borne instrumentation. It is found that for the region below 1 GeV per nucleon the local interstellar spectra computed are consistent with previous galactic cosmic-ray propagation models obtained by Shapiro and Silberberg (1970) and Mason (1972).

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

The low energy cosmic ray H-2 and He-3 spectra and the anomalous He-4 component

Measurements of the 1974 low-energy spectra of H-2, He-3, and He-4 with the IMP-8 satellite reveal the continued presence of the anomalous flat He-4 spectrum first reported in 1972 for roughly below 50 MeV/nucleon. Measurements of the isotope quartet H-1, H-2, He-3, He-4 are reported and compared, for 1974 quiet time, and are compared to 1965 observations at near solar minimum. Comparison of H-3 and He-3 data with accepted models of interstellar propagation and solar modulation supports a galactic origin for these isotopes down to about 10 MeV/nucleon. No evidence is found for a low-energy breakdown or other anomalous behavior of galactic propagation or solar modulation models capable of accounting for the anomalous He-4 component.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

The isotopic composition of galactic cosmic ray Li, Be, and B

New measurements are reported of the isotopes of cosmic-ray Li, Be, and B and of the elements C, N, and O, with cosmic ray telescopes on board the IMP-7 and IMP-8 satellites during 1973-74 in the energy range 35-210 MeV/nucleon. High mass resolution and stability together with a set of data more extensive than in previous experiments lead to a clear isotopic separation. The measured isotopic and chemical abundances provide a stringent test for models of interstellar propagation and solar modulation. We find not only that for a steady state propagation and solar modulation model all light isotopes and medium element abundances are explained by 5 g/sq cm average pathlengths, as was earlier found from element analysis, but that also these results, taken along with our Be-10 measurements, indicate a longer lifetime for cosmic rays than predicted by the usual assumption of an average interstellar density of 1 to 3 atoms/cu cm.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

The relative abundances of galactic cosmic ray Be-7, Be-9, and Be-10

The isotopic composition of galactic cosmic ray Be near 100 MeV/nucleon was measured in interplanetary space with high-resolution solid-state telescopes on the IMP-7 and IMP-8 satellites during 1973-1974. These two independent measurements yield Be-10/Be ratios above 10%. Taken together with the galactic propagation model described in the text, these results show that the cosmic ray 'clock' lifetime (most probable value of roughly 20 million years) is significantly greater than that deduced for a nominal interstellar gas density of about 1 to 3 atoms/cu cm.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

Isotopic composition of low energy beryllium in the galactic cosmic rays

The multielement charged-particle telescope on the IMP-5 satellite obtained data essentially continuously for more than three years in the interplanetary medium under stable instrument conditions which have made it possible to separate the H, He, and Be isotopes in the galactic cosmic radiation using the technique of double dE/dx vs residual E and particle range measurements. Special emphasis is placed on demonstrating that in the energy range from 50 to 150 MeV/nucleon the instrument clearly resolved Be-7 vs Be-9. A detailed analysis of approximately 100 Be events collected over the mission lifetime yields the ratios (Be-7/Be) = 0.50 plus or minus 0.07, (Be-9/Be) = 0.41 plus or minus 0.10, and (Be-10/Be) = 0.09 plus or minus 0.10. These results are consistent with current models of galactic cosmic ray propagation after taking account of the effects of solar modulation.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

Abundances relative to carbon of the elements silicon to nickel in the galactic cosmic radiation

Discussion of the abundances relative to carbon of the elements from silicon to nickel in the galactic cosmic radiation as measured by cosmic ray telescopes on the IMP-5 and IMP-7 satellites, in energy ranges between 40 and 450 MeV/nucleon depending on the species. The IMP-7 measurements are still to be considered only preliminary and do not yet fully exploit the resolution capabilities of that instrument. Calculations of the abundances to be expected in this charge range if the cosmic radiation traverses 6 g/sq cm of material after acceleration are presented, and the consequences which follow both for propagation models and for the chemical composition of the sources of the cosmic radiation are discussed.

Cartwright, B.↗