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Lee, Martin A.

Publications and source records attributed to Lee, Martin A..

14 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2014

Synthesis of 3-D Coronal-Solar Wind Energetic Particle Acceleration Modules

Acute space radiation hazards pose one of the most serious risks to future human and robotic exploration. Large solar energetic particle (SEP) events are dangerous to astronauts and equipment. The ability to predict when and where large SEPs will occur is necessary in order to mitigate their hazards. The Coronal-Solar Wind Energetic Particle Acceleration (C-SWEPA) modeling effort in the NASANSF Space Weather Modeling Collaborative [Schunk, 2014] combines two successful Living With a Star (LWS) (http:lws.gsfc.nasa.gov) strategic capabilities: the Earth-Moon-Mars Radiation Environment Modules (EMMREM)[Schwadron et al., 2010] that describe energetic particles and their effects, with the Next Generation Model forthe Corona and Solar Wind developed by the Predictive Science, Inc. (PSI) group. The goal of the C-WEPA effort is to develop a coupled model that describes the conditions of the corona, solar wind, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and associated shocks, particle acceleration, and propagation via physics-based modules. Assessing the threat of SEPs is a difficult problem. The largest SEPs typically arise in conjunction with X classflares and very fast (1000 kms) CMEs. These events are usually associated with complex sunspot groups(also known as active regions) that harbor strong, stressed magnetic fields. Highly energetic protonsgenerated in these events travel near the speed of light and can arrive at Earth minutes after the eruptiveevent. The generation of these particles is, in turn, believed to be primarily associated with the shock waveformed very low in the corona by the passage of the CME (injection of particles fromthe flare sitemay also playa role). Whether these particles actually reach Earth (or any other point) depends on their transport in theinterplanetary magnetic field and their magnetic connection to the shock.

exploration↗
NASA NTRS1996

Studies of Interstellar Pickup Ions in the Solar Wind

The work under this grant involves studies of the interaction of interstellar pickup ions with the solar wind, with the goal of a comprehensive model of the particle distributions and wave intensities to be expected throughout the heliosphere, as well as the interactions of those distributions with the solar wind termination shock. In the past year, we have completed a number of projects, including observations and modeling of the effects of a large scattering mean free path on the pickup He(+) seen at AMPTE, an analytical model of anisotropic pickup tons in a steady radial magnetic field, and a derivation of a reduced solar wind Mach number due to increased estimates on the inflowing hydrogen density allowing for a weak termination shock. In the next year, we plan to investigate in more detail the correspondence between our models of anisotropic pickup ions and the data on spectra, variations, and proton-He(+) correlation provided by AMPTE, Ulysses, and our instrument on SOHO. We will model the time-dependent pickup ion density resulting from finite periods of radial magnetic field. We will also incorporate the effects of a large mean free path into our analysis of the He(+) focusing cone, leading to more accurate parameter values for the interstellar helium gas. This progress report also includes a discussion of our Space Physics Educational Outreach activities in the past year and plans for the next year.

Isenberg, Philip A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Particle acceleration and transport in the tail and at the front side of the magnetosphere, task 1 and 2

The work under this grant involved studies of: (1) the acceleration and heating of ions in the course of magnetospheric substorms and the spatial distributions of the ion populations in the magnetotail; and (2) the comparison in in-situ acceleration at the bow shock and the leakage of energetic particles from the magnetosphere as source of energetic ions upstream of the Earth's bow shock.

Kistler, Lynn M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

How to bet on the location of the termination shock - A summary overview of the Symposium

This paper loosely summarizes the Symposium in the context of estimating the distance to the solar wind termination shock. Thus the major constituents of the heliosphere are first reviewed including the solar wind and its shocks, magnetic structure and stream structure, the interstellar neutral gas and its daughters, the interstellar pickup ions and the cosmic ray anomalous component, and the galactic cosmic rays. Then a direct calculation of the distance to the termination shock is presented, which yields 80 AU but with large error bars. Finally information carried by messengers from the termination shock and heliosheath (the kHz radio bursts observed by Voyager, galactic cosmic rays, the cosmic ray anomalous component, and the interstellar neutral gas and backscattered photons) is assessed and interpreted. The paper concludes that 80 AU is the best bet.

Lee, Martin A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Particle acceleration in the heliosphere

This review presents an overview of the various populations of energetic particles accelerated in the heliosphere: energetic storm particles. corotating ion events, upstream ions at Earth's bow shock, the cosmic ray anomalous component, and interstellar and cometary pickup ions. In each case the review presents or describes original and/or key observations, the current understanding of its origin, and its particular impact on theoretical progress.

Lee, Martin A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

On the transport and acceleration of solar flare particles in a coronal loop

The turbulent environment of a flaring solar coronal loop directly affects the population of particles to be accelerated or already accelerated. Under the assumption of a uniform turbulent MHD wave field within the loop, the behavior of a particle distribution as it interacts with the turbulence is discussed, including particle precipitation to the footpoints of the loop and the evolution of the energy distribution as the particles undergo second-order stochastic acceleration. Two cases are discussed in detail: (1) particles spatially diffusing within the loop and precipitating with minimal acceleration in the short time scale of an impulsive event and (2) particles diffusing in both real and momentum space in a long duration event. Collisional losses due to ambient electrons are included. The gamma-ray flare of June 3, 1982 is modeled, and good agreement is obtained between predicted and observed time profiles if the loop length is 100,000 km with an intrinsic spatial diffusion time of 100-450 s. It follows that the production of high-energy neutrons and pi mesons extends over a time scale of 1000 s as observed.

Ryan, James M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Ion acceleration to cosmic ray energies

The acceleration and transport environment of the outer heliosphere is described schematically. Acceleration occurs where the divergence of the solar-wind flow is negative, that is at shocks, and where second-order Fermi acceleration is possible in the solar-wind turbulence. Acceleration at the solar-wind termination shock is presented by reviewing the spherically-symmetric calculation of Webb et al. (1985). Reacceleration of galactic cosmic rays at the termination shock is not expected to be important in modifying the cosmic ray spectrum, but acceleration of ions injected at the shock up to energies not greater than 300 MeV/charge is expected to occur and to create the anomalous cosmic ray component. Acceleration of energetic particles by solar wind turbulence is expected to play almost no role in the outer heliosphere. The one exception is the energization of interstellar pickup ions beyond the threshold for acceleration at the quasi-perpendicular termination shock.

Lee, Martin A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Slow twists of solar magnetic flux tubes and the polar magnetic field of the sun

The solar wind model of Weber and Davis (1967) is generalized to compute the heliospheric magnetic field resulting from solar rotation or a steady axisymmetric twist including a geometrical expansion which is more rapid than spherical. The calculated increase in the ratio of the toroidal to poloidal field components with heliocentric radial distance r clarifies an expression derived recently by Jokipii and Kota (1989). Magnetic-field components transverse to r do not in general grow to dominate the radial component at large r. The analysis also yields expressions for the Poynting flux associated with the steady twists.

Hollweg, Joseph V.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Ultra-low frequency waves at comets

Theory and observational results on ultralow frequency (ULF) waves or turbulence upstream of comets are reviewed. The ULF wave characteristics of comets Giacobini-Zinner and Halley are described and the cyclotron resonance condition is discussed. Theoretical work on the contribution of instabilities to ULF wave excitation is addressed. The quasi-linear evolution of the ULF wave spectrum is examined, and the nonlinear evolution of the ULF waves is examined.

Lee, Martin A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Formation of the wave compressional boundary in the earth's foreshock

Using an evolutionary model and allowing for nonuniform proton injection and wave growth rates, the compressional wave boundaries corresponding to IMF inclinations to the solar wind of theta(BV) equal to 45 and 25 deg were located. The compressional boundaries deduced from this model were found to support the results of Greenstadt and Baum (1986) who have concluded that the observed compressional boundaries are incompatible with wave growth at a fixed growth rate, due to the interaction of a uniform beam with the solar wind. The results indicate, however, that the compressional boundaries are quite compatible with nonuniform beams and growth rates which result from the coupled evolution of the energetic protons and the waves with which they interact. It was found that, in the solar wind frame, the dominant wave-particle interaction in the outer foreshock is the damping of inward propagating (toward the shock) left-polarized waves, producing a magnetically quiet region immediately downstream of the foreshock boundary.

Skadron, George↗
NASA NTRS1988

Toward a descriptive model of solar particles in the heliosphere

During a workshop on the interplanetary charged particle environment held in 1987, a descriptive model of solar particles in the heliosphere was assembled. This model includes the fluence, composition, energy spectra, and spatial and temporal variations of solar particles both within and beyong 1 AU. The ability to predict solar particle fluences was also discussed. Suggestions for specific studies designed to improve the basic model were also made.

Shea, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Hydromagnetic wave excitation by ionised interstellar hydrogen and helium in the solar wind

The modification of the interplanetary MHD wave spectrum due to the pickup and isotropization of interstellar hydrogen and helium in the solar wind is predicted on the basis of quasi-linear and (for hydrogen) WKB theory. Results indicate that pickup helium has a very small (unobservable) effect on the solar wind wave spectrum, but that pickup hydrogen results in substantial modifications of cyclotron resonant frequencies (about 0.01 Hz at about 7 AU). It is noted that the predicted modifications beyond about 5 AU are substantial and could be observable at spacecraft frequencies greater than about 0.005 Hz if not degraded by turbulent wave-wave interactions or stochastic ion acceleration.

Lee, Martin A.↗