Convection-dominated transport of solar cosmic rays
Fokker-Planck equation for convection dominated transport of solar cosmic rays solved for exponential decay phase of solar particle events
Forman, M. A.↗
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Radiation hazards to man
The secondary dose contribution expected from the heavy primaries of the galactic cosmic rays was evaluated by a calculational technique developed in this study. Improvements in the solar and galactic cosmic ray environments made possible by recent experimental and theoretical work are discussed and presented. The recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences' space radiation study panel, are used in conjunction with a shielding analysis, to evaluate the radiation status of an astronaut during the triple solar particle event of 10, 14, 16 July 1959.
Curtis, S. B.↗
Solar particle composition measurements
The composition of solar particle events, that is the relative abundance of different elements, was studied, using nuclear emulsion detectors flown on board sounding rockets. These observations were extended to elements as heavy as iron. A model is discussed in which the particles in a flare are stripped of electrons in the high temperature of a flare region, and subsequently are accelerated presumably by magnetic fields.
Reames, D. V.↗
Apollo experience report: Protection against radiation
Radiation protection problems on earth and in space are discussed. Flight through the Van Allen belts and into space beyond the geomagnetic shielding was recognized as hazardous before the advent of manned space flight. Specialized dosimetry systems were developed for use on the Apollo spacecraft, and systems for solar-particle-event warning and dose projection were devised. Radiation sources of manmade origin on board the Apollo spacecraft present additional problems. Methods applied to evaluate and control or avoid the various Apollo radiation hazards are discussed.
English, R. A.↗
Interplanetary charged particle environments
Current state-of-the-art knowledge of the solar wind, solar particle events, and galactic cosmic rays is reviewed for the development of space vehicle design criteria based on these interplanetary environments. These criteria are described quantitatively in terms of intensity, flux and fluence, and their dependences on time, position and energy, and the associated probabilities and related parameters, for electrons, protons and other ions.
Divine, T. N.↗
Time dependent worldwide distribution of atmospheric neutrons and of their products. I, II, III.
Review of the experimental results obtained in a series of measurements of the fast neutron cosmic ray spectrum by means of high-altitude balloons and aircraft. These results serve as a basis for checking a Monte Carlo calculation of the entire neutron distribution and its products. A calculation of neutron production and transport in the earth's atmosphere is then discussed for the purpose of providing a detailed description of the morphology of secondary neutron components. Finally, an analysis of neutron observations during solar particle events is presented. The Monte Carlo output is used to estimate the contribution of flare particles to fluctuations in the steady state neutron distributions.
Merker, M.↗
LLL electron and proton spectrometer on NASA's Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 5
The LLL energetic electron and proton spectrometer on NASA's Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 5 (OGO-5) operated successfully from launch - March 4, 1968 - until retirement in August 1971. Data recovery during this time was about 95% of the orbit except for the last few months. The electron spectrometer used a magnetic field for electron momentum selection which served also as an electron broom for a proton range - energy telescope. The energy range was approximately 60 to 2950 keV for electrons (seven channels) and 0.10 to approximately 94 MeV for protons (seven channels). The experiment was scanned relative to the stabilized OGO-5 for obtaining directional information. Excellent data were taken throughout the magnetosphere and in the interplanetary region. Studies were carried out in the areas of equatorial pitch-angle distributions, substorm dynamics and field topology, particle spectra (time history), particle spatial distributions, and solar particle events.
West, H. I., Jr.↗
Investigations of cosmic ray anisotropies and their relationship to concurrent magnetic field data
Investigations of cosmic ray anisotropies and their relationship to concurrent magnetic field data are reported. These investigations range in scope from the examination of data very late in the decay phase of a solar particle event where long term (approximately 6 hour) averages are used and definite interplanetary effects sought after to an examination of the change in low energy particle anisotropy as the satellite approaches the bow shock and the magnetopause.
Allum, F. R.↗
Measured and Calculated Neutron Spectra and Dose Equivalent Rates at High Altitudes; Relevance to SST Operations and Space Research
Results of the NASA Langley-New York University high-altitude radiation study are presented. Measurements of the absorbed dose rate and of secondary fast neutrons (1 to 10 MeV energy) during the years 1965 to 1971 are used to determine the maximum radiation exposure from galactic and solar cosmic rays of supersonic transport (SST) and subsonic jet occupants. The maximum dose equivalent rates that the SST crews might receive turn out to be 13 to 20 percent of the maximum permissible dose rate (MPD) for radiation workers (5 rem/yr). The exposure of passengers encountering an intense giant-energy solar particle event could exceed the MPD for the general population (0.5 rem/yr), but would be within these permissible limits if in such rare cases the transport descends to subsonic altitude; it is in general less than 12 percent of the MPD. By Monte Carlo calculations of the transport and buildup of nucleons in air for incident proton energies E of 0.02 to 10 GeV, the measured neutron spectra were extrapolated to lower and higher energies and for galactic cosmic rays were found to continue with a relatively high intensity to energies greater than 400 MeV, in a wide altitude range. This condition, together with the measured intensity profiles of fast neutrons, revealed that the biologically important fast and energetic neutrons penetrate deep into the atmosphere and contribute approximately 50 percent of the dose equivalant rates at SST and present subsonic jet altitudes.
Foelsche, T.↗
Observation of transiron solar-flare nuclei in an Apollo 16 command-module window
The first measurements of the fluence of solar particles with nuclear charges not less than 32 and 44 are presented, along with the enhancement factors found. Using a track-etching technique, these transiron nuclei were detected in a window from the Apollo 16 command module which was exposed outside the magnetosphere during the solar-particle event of Apr. 18, 1972.
Shirk, E. K.↗
The variation of solar proton energy spectra and size distribution with heliolongitude
A statistical study of the initial phases of a large number of solar particle events provides an approach for an investigation of the variability in the production process and coronal diffusion. A description is given of the procedures which are suitable for identifying the parent flare of an event, taking into account the heliocentric distribution of the flare-associated events. The determination of the proton energy spectrum at the sun is discussed along with the variation of the spectral index with the associated flare heliocentric longitude, questions concerning the source spectra and the acceleration process, and the size distribution of flare associated particle events.
Van Hollebeke, M. A. I.↗
Emission of nearly stripped carbon and oxygen from the sun
Energy spectra of nearly stripped carbon and oxygen nuclei were observed during several solar particle events indicating a systematic deviation of these spectra from a simple power law. The spectra bend below 100 keV per nucleon and the degree of turn-over are highly correlated with the size of the flare, as measured by the event averaged flux of 130 to 220 keV protons. The energy spectra of helium computed for the same time periods do not show a similar feature. A large variability of the alpha/CNO ratio from event to event (from 2 to about 20 at 40 keV per nucleon) is found, and, in all cases examined, the carbon and oxygen nuclei are nearly fully stripped. These results are interpreted as evidence for storage of energetic ions in hot (T sub e is approximatey 1.5 million K) coronal regions, followed by strong adiabatic deceleration.
Sciambi, R. K.↗
Natural environment design requirements for the Spacelab
The natural environment design requirements for the Spacelab, carried to orbital altitudes as cargo in the space shuttle bay, were presented. This includes consideration of the following: neutral atmosphere, charged particles, radiation (galactic cosmic, trapped, and solar particle events), meteoroids, and astrodynamic constants.
West, G. S.↗
Interplanetary acceleration of relativistic electrons observed with IMP 7
The intensities of 0.22- to 0.5-MeV and 0.5- to 0.8-MeV electrons in interplanetary space following the Oct. 29, 1972, solar particle event have been observed by the IMP 7 satellite. Intensity variations associated with the SSC disturbance of 1655 UT on October 31 are interpreted as suggesting interplanetary acceleration. The results are consistent with an energy-dependent acceleration process which is most effective for electrons of about 0.4 MeV. This is the first reported interplanetary-shock-wave acceleration of relativistic electrons of which the authors are aware.
Armstrong, T. P.↗
The effect of adiabatic focusing upon charged particle propagation in random magnetic fields
This paper describes the effects of strong adiabatic focusing in terms of eigenfunctions of an operator which incorporates both scattering by random fields and focusing by a spatially inhomogeneous guiding field. It is found that focused transport differs from rectilinear transport in the following ways: (1) the coherent velocity toward stronger fields is larger than that toward weaker fields; (2) coherent effects are more prominent relative to diffusive effects when focusing is present; and (3) initial anisotropies at injection have a minimal influence upon rectilinear transport but they have a pronounced effect on focused transport. These features explain certain well-known discrepancies between the diffusive picture and the observed profiles of solar particle events. In particular, they explain the so-called scatter-free propagation of kilovolt flare electrons.
Earl, J. A.↗
Propagation characteristics of solar flare particles
A statistical study on the propagation characteristics of about 80 solar particle events is carried out using the data from Goddard cosmic-ray experiments. It is found that for particles near onset as well as maximum particle intensity at 1 AU, a linear relation exists between the velocity and the traveled distance. This holds for both relativistic electrons (0.5-1.1 MeV) and nonrelativistic protons (4-80 MeV). The relation indicates that particle propagation is independent of both rigidity and energy. It is shown that in general interplanetary diffusion plays a minor role in particle propagation during the initial phase of a flare effect. A study of the onset characteristics indicates that the speed of particle transport in the corona may be as high as 40 deg/hr. This behavior can not be accounted for by either magnetic-field or curvature drift.
Ma Sung, L. S.↗
Observations of a high-energy ion shock spike in interplanetary space
Observations are reported of a high-energy ion shock spike extending in energy to more than 25 MeV for protons, more than 4.3 MeV/nuc for alpha particles, and more than 1.6 MeV/nuc for medium nuclei with Z of at least 6. The measurements were obtained in the course of a solar-particle event on September 15, 1975, by the IMP-7 and IMP-8 spacecraft. It is shown that the observations can be reasonably accounted for by intensive acceleration of charged particles at an 'almost' perpendicular interplanetary shock wave. The data are inconsistent with a one-step d.c.-type acceleration process.
Sarris, E. T.↗
The radial transport of energetic solar flare particles from 1 to 6 AU
Data from the Pioneer 10 and 11 missions to Jupiter and beyond are used in a study of solar flare accelerated particles at distances of several astronomical units from the sun. The intensity-time profiles out to at least 6 AU are consistent with mainly diffusive interplanetary propagation. The outer boundary of the diffusion region is thought to be beyond 10 AU, since no obvious effects of a free escape boundary were observed. Four solar particle events are discussed in detail. The events are interpreted in terms of a spherically symmetric propagation model which includes the effects of diffusion, convection, and adiabatic deceleration and which assumes that the particles are impulsively injected at the sun.
Hamilton, D. C.↗