Cosmic rays near the heliospheric current sheet

Abstract

A discussion of full, three-dimensional model simulations of the solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays, including drift, is presented. Particular emphasis is on the variation of the cosmic-ray intensity near the heliospheric current sheet. It is shown that the model quite naturally produces a negative gradient away from a wavy current sheet as seen by an observer on the earth. It is concluded that recent observations of Newkirk and Lockwood (1981) are not in conflict with these model results, and hence are consistent with modulation models in which drift plays an important role.