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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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NASA NTRS1984

Integral radial cosmic ray gradients in the solar system from 1972 to 1982

The cosmic-ray telescope data on IMP 8, Voyagers 1 and 2, and Pioneer 10 have been used to determine the integral radial cosmic-ray intensity gradients for energies greater than 60 MeV per nucleon. When the 26 day average counting rates are time-shifted for the effects of the outward propagation speed of the solar modulation, the average integral radial gradients (Gr) are 3.0 + or - 0.35 (percent/AU) from 1975 to 1982. Gr is independent to the first order of the cosmic-ray intensity and radial heliocentric distance out to about 30 AU. After the large transient variations in the cosmic-ray intensity in mid-1982, the integral gradients returned to their original values.

Lockwood, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS2023

Testing Cosmic Microwave Background Anomalies in E-mode Polarization with Current and Future Data

In this paper, we explore the power of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization (E-mode) data to corroborate four potential anomalies in CMB temperature data: the lack of large angular-scale correlations, the alignment of the quadrupole and octupole (Q–O), the point-parity asymmetry, and the hemispherical power asymmetry. We use CMB simulations with noise representative of three experiments—the Planck satellite, the Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS), and the LiteBIRD satellite—to test how current and future data constrain the anomalies. We find the correlation coefficients ρ between temperature and E-mode estimators to be less than 0.1, except for the point-parity asymmetry (ρ = 0.17 for cosmic-variance-limited simulations), confirming that E-modes provide a check on the anomalies that is largely independent of temperature data. Compared to Planck component-separated CMB data (smica), the putative LiteBIRD survey would reduce errors on E-mode anomaly estimators by factors of ∼3 for hemispherical power asymmetry and point-parity asymmetry, and by ∼26 for lack of large-scale correlation. The improvement in Q–O alignment is not obvious due to large cosmic variance, but we found the ability to pin down the estimator value will be improved by a factor ≳100. Improvements with CLASS are intermediate to these.

Cosmic microwave background radiation↗
NASA NTRS1993

Large cosmic ray transient decreases observed in the heliosphere at the Earth, Voyagers 1 and 2 and Pioneer 10 from 1987 to 1991

Using the greater than 70-MeV cosmic ray rate data from the Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP), Voyager, and Pioneer spacecraft, we have examined the role of large transient decreases in the overall cosmic ray decrease from 1987 to 1990. At least 12 separate transient decreases with magnitudes greater than 5% were observed at Voyager 2, which moved from a heliocentric radius of approximately 23 to 35 AU during the time period. Many, but not all, of these decreases were observed at IMP 8 near the Earth and at the Pioneer 10 between 42 and 54 AU near the ecliptic plane. However, only five of these decreases were observed at Voyager 1 at north heliographic latitude approximately 30 deg and radial distance between 32 and 46 AU. The period of decreasing cosmic ray intensity from 1987 to 1990 can be divided into two phases. During phase 1, between mid-1987 and early 1989, the average heliospheric current sheet tilt rapidly increased from approximately 8 deg to 65 deg as the solar activity was also increasing rapidly and the intensity at the Earth decreased by about 35%. Four large transient decreases were observed at the Earth during this time; however, transient decreases beyond the Earth were observed only near the ecliptic plane. In phase 2, from early 1989 to mid-1990 when the intensity at the Earth decreased by an additional approximately 60%, five large transient decreases were observed at all latitudes. During this time the current sheet tilt was always greater than 60 deg. Using a procedure to separate these large transient decreases from any possible slower long-term variations, we argue that these decreases appear to be responsible for much of the overall intensity decrease of 20 - 35% observed at all spacecraft near the equatorial plane in phase 1 as well as most of the larger intensity decrease of about 45 - 60% observed at all spacecraft during phase 2. The recovery of the cosmic ray intensity that started at the Earth in early 1990 moved outward in the heliosphere reaching the Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft about 6 months later. This is in contrast to what happened as the intensity began to recover was observed to begin almost simultaneously at all radii less than 25 AU. This difference suggests that during the current cycle, the mechanism responsible for the recovery must have propagated outward from the Sun. This could have been related to the reversal of the solar polar magnetic field which occurred in early 1990. The effects of large transients propagating outward in the heliosphere and becoming ineffective when they reach the heliospheric boundary could not have played a major role in the onset of the recovery in 1990, since in this case the recovery should have been observed first in the outer heliosphere.

Webber, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

UH cosmic rays and solar system material - The elements just beyond iron

The nucleosynthesis of cosmic-ray elements between the iron peak and the rare-earth region is examined, and compositional changes introduced by propagation in interstellar space are calculated. Theories on the origin of elements heavier than iron are reviewed, a supernova model of explosive nucleosynthesis is adopted for the ultraheavy (UH) cosmic rays, and computational results for different source distributions are compared with experimental data. It is shown that both the cosmic-ray data and the nucleosynthesis calculations are not yet of sufficient precision to pinpoint the processes occurring in cosmic-ray source regions, that the available data do provide boundary conditions for cosmic-ray nucleosynthesis, and that these limits may apply to the origin of elements in the solar system. Specifically, it is concluded that solar-system abundances appear to be consistent with a superposition of the massive-star core-helium-burning s-process plus explosive-carbon-burning synthesis for the elements from Cu to As and are explained adequately by the s- and r-processes for heavier elements.

Wefel, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Cosmic ray antimatter and baryon symmetric cosmology

The relative merits and difficulties of the primary and secondary origin hypotheses for the observed cosmic-ray antiprotons, including the new low-energy measurement of Buffington, et al. We conclude that the cosmic-ray antiproton data may be evidence for antimatter galaxies and baryon symmetric cosmology. The present bar P data are consistent with a primary extragalactic component having /p=/equiv 1+/- 3.2/0.7x10 = to the -4 independent of energy. We propose that the primary extragalactic cosmic ray antiprotons are most likely from active galaxies and that expected disintegration of bar alpha/alpha ban alpha/alpha. We further predict a value for ban alpha/alpha =/equiv 10 to the -5, within range of future cosmic ray detectors.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Cosmic ray variations during PCA type absorption

It is shown based on data on the cosmic-ray neutron component, ionospheric soundings, and measurements of cosmic radio-emission absorption at Vostok station (Antarctica) that the ionization of the lower ionosphere increases during low intensity of Forbush-type cosmic rays. This is manifested in increased absorption and the appearance of strong sporadic layers in the E-region.

Kozin, I. D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Charge dependence of the energy spectra of cosmic rays.

Discussion of spectral data for Li, Be, B, C, N, and O from measurements of cosmic ray particle charges, trajectories and energies by a balloon-borne ionization spectrometer floated for 16 hr. It is concluded that the source spectra of heavy nuclei are flatter than those of lighter nuclei and the acceleration of the heavier nuclei is preferential in cosmic rays from the same source.

Ormes, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Determination of galactic cosmic ray latitudinal gradient using Earth based detectors

Using cosmic ray intensity data from the Deep River Neutron monitor and the relation between solar wind velocity and heliomagnetic latitude, an attempt is made to evaluate quantitatively the latitudinal gradient of cosmic ray intensity during the periods dominated by a two sector pattern. Assuming a constant orientation of the heliospheric current sheet on a time scale of the order of a year, a relationship is determined between cosmic ray intensity and heliomagnetic latitude.

BADRUDDIN↗
NASA NTRS1986

Measurements of hydrogen and helium isotopes in Galactic cosmic rays from 1978 through 1984

The propagation of light cosmic rays is examined using measurements of the relative abundances of the isotopes H-1, H-2 and He-3 and He-4 made with the ISEE 3 instrumentation. It is believed that cosmic ray particles experience spallation in traveling through the interstellar medium, thereby producing the isotopes examined in the present study. The isotopic ratios are therefore expected to yield data on outward migrating particles, which lose energy while moving toward extragalactic space, i.e., the 'leaky box approximation'. The energy ranges covered are 26-138 MeV/nucleon for H-1 and He-4, 24-89 MeV/nucleon for H-2 and 43-146 MeV/nucleon for He-3. Solar activity ranged from minimum to maximum over the observational period. Details of the experimental strategies, instrumentation features and calibration techniques employed with the particle detectors are provided. Histograms were geneated of the energies attributable to each particle track and mass ratios of the various isotopes were calculated over the measured energy ranges. Account was taken of errors introduced by solar modulation, and an escape path length of 5.6-7.8 g/sq cm was estimated for particle propagation through the Galaxy. The projected path length agrees with previous estimates based on data from heavier cosmic ray nuclei.

Kroeger, R.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Radiation Risk Projections for Space Travel

Space travelers are exposed to solar and galactic cosmic rays comprised of protons and heavy ions moving with velocities close to the speed of light. Cosmic ray heavy ions are known to produce more severe types of biomolecular damage in comparison to terrestrial forms of radiation, however the relationship between such damage and disease has not been fully elucidated. On Earth, we are protected from cosmic rays by atmospheric and magnetic shielding, and only the remnants of cosmic rays in the form of ground level muons and other secondary radiations are present. Because human epidemiology data is lacking for cosmic rays, risk projection must rely on theoretical understanding and data from experimental models exposed to space radiation using charged particle accelerators to simulate space radiation. Although the risks of cancer and other late effects from cosmic rays are currently believed to present a severe challenge to space travel, this challenge is centered on our lack of confidence in risk projections methodologies. We review biophysics and radiobiology data on the effects of the cosmic ray heavy ions, and the current methods used to project radiation risks . Cancer risk projections are described as a product of many biological and physical factors, each of which has a differential range of uncertainty due to lack of data and knowledge. Risk projections for space travel are described using Monte-Carlo sampling from subjective error di stributions that represent the lack of knowledge in each factor that contributes to the projection model in order to quantify the overall uncertainty in risk projections. This analysis is applied to space mi ssion scenarios including lunar colony, deep space outpost, and a Mars mission. Results suggest that the number of days in space where cancer mortality risks can be assured at a 95% confidence level to be below the maximum acceptable risk for radi ation workers on Earth or the International Space Station is only on the order of 100-200 days. Approaches to reduce these unceI1ainties and mitigate risks are described.

Cucinotta, Francis↗
NASA NTRS1983

Short and long term variations of the anomalous component

Data from the cosmic ray experiment on Voyagers 1 and 2 have been used to examine anomalous O and He in the time period from launch in 1977 to mid-1982. Several time periods where large periodic (typically 26 day) temporal variations of O between 5-15 MeV/nuc are present, are found with variations in intensity by up to a factor of 10. On the longer term, there is a sharp drop the anomalous O intensity relative to the galactic cosmic ray components in near the middle of 1980. After the decrease evidence is still found at about 10 AU for the presence of anomalous O and He near the time of maximum modulation. Data from a larger fraction of the solar cycle will be required before it can be determined whether the intensity of the anomalous component is lower in the second half of the cycle (after the solar field reversal) than in the first half.

Cummings, A. C.↗