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Von Rosenvinge, T. T.

Publications and source records attributed to Von Rosenvinge, T. T..

69 records · Page 4

The composition of corotating energetic particle streams

The relative abundances of 1.5-23 MeV per nucleon ions in corotating nucleon streams are compared with ion abundances in particle events associated with solar flares and with solar and solar wind abundances. He/O and C/O ratios are found to be a factor of the order 2-3 greater in corotating streams than in flare-associated events. The distribution of H/He ratios in corotating streams is found to be much narrower and of lower average value than in flare-associated events. H/He in corotating energetic particle streams compares favorably in both lack of variability and numerical value with H/He in high-speed solar wind plasma streams. The lack of variability suggests that the source population for the corotating energetic particles is the solar wind, a suggestion consistent with acceleration of the corotating particles in interplanetary space.

Mcguire, R. E.↗

The medium energy cosmic ray experiment for ISEE-C

A description is provided of the medium energy cosmic ray experiment on board the ISEE-C spacecraft. This experiment is designed to measure the charge composition of nuclear energetic particles over wide ranges in energy (1-500 MeV/nucleon) and in charge (Z equals 1-28). Individual isotopes are resolvable for Z equals 1-7 over a restricted energy range. Electrons of 2-10 MeV are measured as well. These measurements are accomplished using all solid-state detector telescopes with detectors ranging in thickness from 15-3000 microns. The scientific goals of the experiment are also described. These include study of the composition of energetic particles from the sun and from the galaxy, the acceleration and flow of particles in the interplanetary medium, and electrons from Jupiter. Heliospheric gradients and other characteristics of solar modulation will be measured in conjunction with identical telescopes flown on the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft and similar telescopes on Pioneer 10 and 11.

Von Rosenvinge, T. T.↗

Spectra and composition 2-40 MeV/nucleon of ions Z = 2-28 in solar cosmic ray events

Solid-state detectors on IMP 7 and IMP 8 provide measurements in interplanetary space of ion energy spectra and relative composition from He through Ni in the energy range 2-40 MeV/nucleon. The large solar events of July 3-9, September 11-16, and September 20-26, 1974, are analyzed in detail. Spectra are fit by either power laws in energy or by momentum-dependent exponentials. Spectral slope is independent of ion charge for elements beyond C. Substantial time variations in the He/O and (Fe + Ni)/O ratios are noted. New limits are derived for the abundances of Li, Be, B, F, Na, Al, P, S, Ar, and Ca. Analysis of additional events from 1973 through 1976 suggests a systematic enhancement of the He/O and C/O ratios in low-energy corotating flux increases compared with flare-associated particle fluxes.

Mcguire, R. E.↗

The interplanetary acceleration of energetic nucleons

Corotating proton and electron streams are the dominant type of low-energy (i.e., 0.1-10 MeV per nucleon) particle event observed at 1 AU. The radial dependence of these events has been studied between 1 and 4 AU using essentially identical low-energy detector systems on IMP-7, Pioneer-10, and Pioneer-11. It had been expected that at a given energy, the intensity of these streams would decrease rapidly with heliocentric distance due to the effects of interplanetary adiabatic deceleration. Instead, it is observed that from event to event, the intensity either remains roughly constant or increases significantly (more than an order of magnitude) between 1 and 4 AU. It appears that interplanetary acceleration processes are the most plausible explanation. Several possible acceleration models are discussed.

Mcdonald, F. B.↗

Measurement of the fluxes of galactic cosmic-ray H-2 and He-3 in 1972-1973

This paper reports measurements of the fluxes of cosmic-ray H-2 and He-3 during 1972-1973, carried out by instruments on board the IMP-7 and Pioneer 10 spacecraft. Energy spectra are generally consistent with a positive slope of unity, as would be expected for modulated secondary components. A self-consistent data set is proposed spanning the period from 1965 to 1973 wherein all spectra have the same kinematic behavior. The measured spectra for 1972-1973 are compared with calculated interstellar spectra, and it is concluded that only very broad limits can be placed on the amount of modulation. Ratios of the form H-2/He-4 and He-3/He-4 are examined and compared with calculated values based on an assumed exponential path-length distribution for galactic propagation. It is concluded that unless extreme assumptions are made about the modulation (e.g., no energy loss), it is impossible to reconcile the simple theory and observation. A nearby source is apparently required to supply enough low-energy He-4 to account for the low values of the H-2/He-4 and He-3/He-4 ratios. The possible relationship between this source and the recently discovered enhancements of cosmic-ray N and O is discussed.

Teegarden, B. J.↗

IMP 6, 7 and 8 observations of the composition and time variations of low energy cosmic rays

The charge composition and time variations of quiet-time cosmic rays in the energy range 10 to 25 MeV/nucleon were studied to determine the source of the enhancement of quiet-time intensities of low energy nitrogen and oxygen nuclei observed by Pioneer 10. Time variations were established from data from IMPs 6, 7, and 8; the charge composition was obtained by summing data from IMP 7 and IMP 8. The neon to carbon ratio present in solar rays is too low to explain an observed enhancement of neon. Helium and oxygen have the same percentage modulation for a range of x5 in intensity. This can be explained within the framework of the field-force approximation and the selection mechanism based on the first ionization potential proposed by Fisk et al. (1974) if both oxygen and helium are singly charged.

Von Rosenvinge, T. T.↗

Further studies of the new component of cosmic rays at low energies

Recent observations with cosmic ray telescopes aboard the Pioneer 10 space probe have revealed an anomalous spectrum of nitrogen and oxygen nuclei relative to other nuclei such as carbon in the quiet time cosmic radiation below about 40 MeV/nuc. These observations are extended with additional data from Pioneer 10 and considerable new data from an identical telescope aboard Pioneer 11. In addition to the enhancement of nitrogen and oxygen nuclei observed earlier, the intensity of neon is enhanced as well. The spectra of boron, magnesium, and silicon appear to be similar to that of carbon. Data on the isotopic composition, solar modulation, and radial gradient of these nuclei are presented.

Webber, W. R.↗