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At least 199 records · Page 11

Solar-cycle dependence of galactic cosmic ray flux. II - The correlation between the nucleonic flux and solar indices

To investigate the relationship between solar activity and cosmic-ray modulation, time series of the nucleonic flux and of solar plages, sunspots, centimeter radio noise, and the brightness of the white-light corona at 1.1 and 1.5 solar radii from the center of sun are cross-correlated. Data pertain to the years 1964-1967 during the ascending phase of the current solar cycle. The amplitudes and phases of correlation functions for filtered and unfiltered indices are discussed. The existence of a superior solar index for relating solar activity to long-term modulation is not yet demonstrated conclusively, and the time lag of modulation is too poorly determined to permit its use in estimating the radius of the modulation region.

Parker, G. D.↗

The isotopic composition of cosmic-ray helium from 123 to 279 MeV per nucleon - A new measurement and analysis

A description is given of an experiment which was designed to measure the spectra and composition of cosmic-ray hydrogen and helium isotopes in the interval 120-280 MeV per nucleon to compare with the recent values observed at low energies and also with the only earlier measurement in this high-energy regime. The results presented were obtained during a high-altitude balloon flight from Thompson, Manitoba, in 1973 August. This flight occurred during the period in which the presence of the anomalous component in the helium spectrum became apparent, and provides the opportunity of determining whether this component extends to higher energies than those studied by satellite experiments. The results place an upper limit on the flux of 'anomalous' He-4 (which appeared at low energy in 1972) of at most 15% in the energy range of this experiment, and combined with the low-energy observations of the Chicago group, show an energy dependence of the average ratio of the helium isotopes in the modulated cosmic rays which is difficult to reconcile with current modulation models.

Leech, H. W.↗

Analytic optical potentials for nucleon-nucleus nucleus-nucleus collisions involving light and medium nuclei

Utilizing an optical model potential approximation to the exact nucleus-nucleus multiple-scattering series, optical potentials for nucleon-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions are analytically derived. These expressions are applicable to light and medium cosmic ray nuclei as their single-particle density distributions are analytically determined, without approximation, from their actual harmonic well charge density distributions. Pauli correlation effects are included through the use of a simple Gaussian function to replace the usual expression obtained in the infinite nuclear matter approximation.

Bidasaria, H. B.↗

Energetic interplanetary nucleon flux anisotropies - The effect of earth's bow shock and magnetosheath on sunward flow

Attention is given to the combined, average effects of the bow shock and magnetosheath on the diffusive flow of interplanetary nuclei. The observations presented show that differences between 'connected' and 'unconnected' data subsets are apparent from the beginning of the analysis. Through an investigation of the mean unconnected diffusive anisotropy (those fluxes least affected by the earth's bow shock and magnetosheath) it is confirmed that the cross-field transport of MeV energy nuclei in interplanetary space is statistically significant and in the direction expected from the large-scale particle flux gradients. The direction of particle flow relative to the IMF is then used to show that nucleon flow characteristics on connected IMF differ from those on unconnected IMF. A scenario for producing this difference is then presented. It is concluded that the inclusion of the bow shock connected information biases measurements of the flux anisotropies of MeV energy H.

Christon, S. P.↗

Temporal variations of nucleonic abundances in solar flare energetic particle events. II - Evidence for large-scale shock acceleration

A survey of the roughly 1 MeV per nucleon ion abundance over the range H-Fe measured with 3 hr time resolution during large solar particle events from November 1973 through December 1977, under near solar minimum conditions, is presented. For all the monitored species, a strong decrease in average flux level occurred with increase of the optical flare site distance from the W 60 deg connection point. The 3 hr abundance ratios He/H, O/He, and Fe/He were observed to fluctuate by a factor of about two about their average values for given flare events, and the size of these fluctuations was independent of the distance to the optical flare site. The monitored abundance ratios exhibited no dependence on distance to the optical flare site. The physical mechanism suggested to explain these observations is large-scale shock acceleration from a shock wave originating at the flare site and propagating as far away as 100 deg heliolongitude.

Mason, G. M.↗

Results on nucleon life-time from the Kolar gold field experiment

The KGF nucleon decay experiment has been in operation since October 1980 with a 140 ton calorimetric detector at a depth of 2.3 Km underground. The detector comprises 34 layers of proportional counters arranged in an orthogonal geometry with 12 mm thick iron plates in between successive layers. The proportional counters are made up of square (10 x 10 square centimeters) iron plates of wall thickness 2.3 mm. Each of the 1600 counters is instrumented to provide data on ionization, DE/dx and arrival time. The visible energy of a particle is determined to an accuracy of approximately 20% from the ionization and range of its track. The end point ionization of a stopping track provides the direction of motion as well as the nature of the particle (mu/pi,k,p). Decay of mu is recorded with an overall efficiency of only 20% in view of the thickness of 13 g/square centimeters between successive layers.

Krishnaswamy, M. R.↗

Transport model of nucleon-nucleus reaction

A simplified model of nucleon-nucleus reaction is developed and some of its properties are examined. Comparisons with proton production measured for targets of Al-27, Ni-58, Zr-90, and Bi-209 show some hope for developing an accurate model for these complex reactions. It is suggested that binding effects are the next step required for further development.

Wilson, J. W.↗

Nucleus-nucleus interactions between 20 and 65 GeV per nucleon

A hybrid electronic-counter/emulsion-chamber instrument was exposed to high-energy cosmic rays on a balloon. The data on 105 nucleus-nucleus collisions in the energy range 20-65 GeV/nucleon and for incident nuclear charges Zp in the range of 22 to 28 are presented. Inclusive characteristics of particle production on different targets (plastic, emulsion, and lead) are shown and compared with models based on the superposition of nucleon-nucleus interactions. Features of a subset of the more central collisions with a plastic target and some characteristics of individual events with the highest multiplicity of produced particles are described.

Burnett, T. H.↗

Nucleon-nucleus interaction data base: Total nuclear and absorption cross sections

Neutron total cross sections are represented for Li to Pu targets at energies above 0.1 MeV and less than 100 MeV using a modified nuclear Ramsauer formalism. The formalism is derived for energies above 100 MeV by fitting theoretical cross sections. Neutron absorption cross sections are represented by analytic expressions of similar form, but shape resonance phenomena of the Ramsauer effect is not present. Elastic differential cross sections are given as a renormalized impulse approximation. These cross section data bases are useful for nucleon transport applications.

Wilson, J. W.↗

Nucleon emission via electromagnetic excitation in relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions: Re-analysis of the Weizsacker-Williams method

Previous analyses of the comparison of Weizsacker-Williams (WW) theory to experiment for nucleon emission via electromagnetic (EM) excitations in nucleus-nucleus collisions were not definitive because of different assumptions concerning the value of the minimum impact parameter. This situation is corrected by providing criteria that allows definitive statements to be made concerning agreement or disagreement between WW theory and experiment.

Norbury, John W.↗

Seed population for about 1 MeV per nucleon heavy ions accelerated by interplanetary shocks

Data obtained between 1977 and 1982 by the ISEE 1 and ISEE 3 satellites on the composition of heavy ions of about 1 MeV per nucleon, accelerated in interplanetary shock events which followed solar flare events, are examined. It was found that the average relative abundances for C, O, and Fe in the shock events were very close to those found for energetic ions in the solar flares, suggesting that, at these energies, the shock accelerated particles have the solar energetic particles as their seed population. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that the Fe/O ratio in the solar particle events is very strongly correlated with the Fe/O ratio in associated diffusive shock events.

Tan, L. C.↗

Energy spectra of cosmic rays above 1 TeV per nucleon

Direct measurements of cosmic-ray nuclei above 1 TeV/nucleon have been performed in a series of balloon-borne experiments with emulsion chambers. The observed all-particle spectrum above 20 TeV is consistent with the results of the Proton satellite and many air shower experiments. The proton spectrum is consistent with a power law having an index of 2.76 + or - 0.09 up to at least 100 TeV, but an overabundance of helium by a factor of 2 above 2 TeV per nucleon is found when compared with the extrapolation from the low energies. For heavy elements (C through Fe), the intensities around 1 TeV/nucleon are consistent, within the statistical errors, with the extrapolation from lower energy data using the Spacelab 2 spectral indices. An enhancement for the medium-heavy components (C through Ca) above 200 TeV is indicated. The mean mass above 50 TeV indicates slightly higher values than the results of the air shower experiments.

Burnett, T. H.↗

Measurement of the cosmic-ray iron spectrum between 60 and 200 GeV per nucleon

A measurement of the spectral index of Galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) iron has been made using a high-energy gas Cerenkov spectrometer. The spectral index of GCR iron is found to be 2.56 + or - 0.11 in the energy range 57-200 GeV/ nucleon. This result indicates that the source spectrum of GCR iron is similar to that of other primary GCR nuclei and is consistent with the simplest models of GCR propagation.

Esposito, Joseph A.↗

Solar particle abundances at energies of greater than 1 MeV per nucleon and the role of interplanetary shocks

The abundances of elements in large solar energetic-particle events in the energy range of 2-12 MeV per nucleon are examined. It is confirmed that the abundances relative to mean values vary approximately monotonically as a function of mass, except for He-4; some events show a gradual depletion of heavy ions, whereas a small number displays a gradual increase. A further organization of abundance data is shown, which depends on the longitude of the source region. Enhancements in Fe/C and other heavy elements relative to C occur when source regions are near west 60 deg; the enhancements are attributed to the sampling of a flare-heated material. Depletions of these elements are found to be greatest for source regions near central meridian; they are matched by a steepening of the spectrum and can be understood in terms of diffusive shock acceleration.

Cane, H. V.↗

Calculations of hadronic dissociation of Si-28 projectiles at 14.6A GeV by nucleon emission

An optical potential abrasion-ablation collision model is used to calculate hadronic dissociation cross sections for one, two, and three nucleon removal for the first time for a 14.6A GeV Si-28 beam fragmenting in aluminum, tin, and lead targets. These estimates are compared with recent semiinclusive measurements. Significant differences between some calculated and measured semiinclusive cross sections exist which cannot be resolved without measurements of the exclusive channel hadronic cross sections. Calculations for each exclusive reaction channel contributing to the semiinclusive cross sections are presented and discussed.

Townsend, Lawrence W.↗