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High-energy radiation background in space

The radiation environment of near-earth space and its effects on biological and hardware systems are examined in reviews and reports. Sections are devoted to particle interactions and propagation, data bases, instrument background and dosimetry, detectors and experimental progress, biological effects, and future needs and strategies. Particular attention is given to angular distributions and spectra of geomagnetically trapped protons in LEO, bremsstrahlung production by electrons, nucleon-interaction data bases for background estimates, instrumental and atmospheric background lines observed by the SMM gamma-ray spectrometer, the GRAD high-altitude balloon flight over Antarctica, space protons and brain tumors, a new radioprotective antioxidative agent, LEO radiation measurements on the Space Station, and particle-background effects on the Hubble Space Telescope and the Lyman FUV Spectroscopic Explorer.

Rester, A. C., Jr.↗

The diffuse galactic gamma radiation - The Compton contribution and component separation by energy interval and galactic coordinates

The diffuse high-energy galactic gamma radiation to be expected from cosmic ray interactions with matter and photons is considered with particular emphasis on the contribution of Compton radiation from cosmic ray electrons. The intensity, spectrum and spatial distribution of the expected galactic gamma radiation are estimated based on models of the matter, cosmic ray and photon distributions to take into account the contributions of bremsstrahlung, high-energy cosmic-ray nucleon and interstellar matter interactions as well as Compton interactions between cosmic ray electrons and background photons. Results suggest that the Compton gamma ray contribution from cosmic ray electron interactions with galactic visible and infrared photons is substantially larger than previously believed. Analysis of the energy spectra and latitude dependence of the various sources reveals that the Compton radiation, bremsstrahlung and nuclear cosmic ray-matter interaction radiation should be separable, with Compton radiation dominating at energies from 10 to 100 MeV at galactic latitudes greater than several degrees. Results demonstrate the potential of gamma ray observations in studies of galactic structure, cosmic ray electrons and galactic photon density.

Kniffen, D. A.↗

A 50 day periodicity in the cosmic ray anisotropy

A modulation of the anisotropy of relativistic interplanetary particles with a period of approximately 50 days is discussed. Even though it is not unusual for cosmic ray data to reflect the solar rotation frequency and its harmonics with periods of 25/n days (n being 1, 2, 3, . . .), it is not known how a periodicity of 50 days, which would be a subharmonic, is generated. Since the Cerenkov counter responds to all kinds of relativistic particles, it does not identify the particles that cause the 50 day east-west modulation. Jovian electrons are considered unlikely in that they are most abundant near their source, whereas the modulation has never been reported for ground-based neutron monitors. It is pointed out that since the Cerenkov threshold is somewhat lower than typical neutron monitor cutoffs, it is conceivable that the modulation affects nucleons just in this energy gap. It is also thought that there might be a uniformly distributed component of interplanetary electrons which undergo this peculiar modulation.

Fillius, W.↗

Nucleon-nucleus interactions from JACEE

Results on hadron-nucleus interactions from the Japanese-American Cooperation Emulsion Experiment experiment are presented. Angular distributions for charged particles, and angular and transverse momentum spectra for photons have been measured for a sample of events with sigma epsilon sub gamma. Results on central rapidity density and transverse energy flow are discussed.

Burnett, T. H.↗

Nuclear fragmentation energy and momentum transfer distributions in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

An optical model description of energy and momentum transfer in relativistic heavy-ion collisions, based upon composite particle multiple scattering theory, is presented. Transverse and longitudinal momentum transfers to the projectile are shown to arise from the real and absorptive part of the optical potential, respectively. Comparisons of fragment momentum distribution observables with experiments are made and trends outlined based on our knowledge of the underlying nucleon-nucleon interaction. Corrections to the above calculations are discussed. Finally, use of the model as a tool for estimating collision impact parameters is indicated.

Khandelwal, Govind S.↗

Analytic determinations of single-folding optical potentials

A simple analytic method for calculating nucleon-nucleus optical potentials using a single folding of a Gaussian two body interaction with an arbitrary nuclear distribution is presented. When applied to proton-lead elastic scattering, the predicted real part of the Woods-Saxon potential is in substantial agreement with the experimentally determined phenomenological potential, although there are no adjustable parameters. In addition, the volume integrals of both real potentials are nearly identical.

Townsend, L. W.↗

LENR Products: Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF), Fission, or Both?

Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) or Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR) generate heat from the high energy products they produce. Conventionally, d-d fusion reactions may produce either 2.45 MeV neutrons, 3 MeV protons, or high energy gammas. Generally, fission will give 5-10x the excess energy of fusion. However, aneutronic “cold fusion” would provide 24 MeV/reaction, D(d,γ) 4 He, where the gamma is suppressed. In a series of pressurized gas cycling experiments with a palladium silver (75 wt.% Pd and 25 wt.% Ag or Pd25Ag) alloy [1], samples cycled with deuterium showed excess heat via unexplained temperature rises. Post-test analysis of the Pd25Ag samples using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM/EDX) showed several molten features containing anomalous elements other than Pd and Ag. Researchers such as Liu et al [2] have also observed transmutations under similar conditions. These molten areas and anomalous elements suggest Pd fission. This nuclear process has been referred to as nuclear disintegration. Either nuclear fission or disintegration may result in neutron rich fragments. The fragments would rapidly beta decay to shorter lived daughters until they reach stability. We’ve observed evidence of both fusion and fission products [3]. Figure 1 shows neutron spectroscopy showing fusion and boosted neutron energies in bremsstrahlung-initiated fusion of TiD2. Figure 2 shows possible fission products from D 2 gas cycled Pd25Ag alloy. Alternatively, Oppenheimer-Phillips stripping reactions, enhanced by electron screening [4] may also occur. In this case, the 8.6 MeV binding energy per Pd or Ag minus the 2.2 MeV deuteron binding energy leaves 6.4 MeV distributed between the reaction products. The energy is shared inversely proportional to the masses of the stripped off nucleon, p or n, and the new target nucleus.

Theresa L. Benyo↗

LENR Products: Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF), Fission, or Both?

Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) or Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR) generate heat from the high energy products they produce. Conventionally, d-d fusion reactions may produce either 2.45 MeV neutrons, 3 MeV protons, or high energy gammas. Generally, fission will give 5-10x the excess energy of fusion. However, aneutronic “cold fusion” would provide 24 MeV/reaction, D(d,γ) 4 He, where the gamma is suppressed. In a series of pressurized gas cycling experiments with a palladium silver (75 wt.% Pd and 25 wt.% Ag or Pd25Ag) alloy [1], samples cycled with deuterium showed excess heat via unexplained temperature rises. Post-test analysis of the Pd25Ag samples using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM/EDX) showed several molten features containing anomalous elements other than Pd and Ag. Researchers such as Liu et al [2] have also observed transmutations under similar conditions. These molten areas and anomalous elements suggest Pd fission. This nuclear process has been referred to as nuclear disintegration. Either nuclear fission or disintegration may result in neutron rich fragments. The fragments would rapidly beta decay to shorter lived daughters until they reach stability. We’ve observed evidence of both fusion and fission products [3]. Figure 1 shows neutron spectroscopy showing fusion and boosted neutron energies in bremsstrahlung-initiated fusion of TiD2. Figure 2 shows possible fission products from D2 gas cycled Pd25Ag alloy. Alternatively, Oppenheimer-Phillips stripping reactions, enhanced by electron screening [4] may also occur. In this case, the 8.6 MeV binding energy per Pd or Ag minus the 2.2 MeV deuteron binding energy leaves 6.4 MeV distributed between the reaction products. The energy is shared inversely proportional to the masses of the stripped off nucleon, p or n, and the new target nucleus.

Theresa L. Benyo↗

Study of hadron bundles observed in Chacaltaya two-story emulsion chamber

The existence of hadron-rich families associated with few gamma-ray emission named Centauro and Mini-Centauro phemonena was reported. It was investigated whether these are produced by the special type of interaction different from the ordinary pion multiple production or not. The experimental results are compared with simulation calculation based on ordinary multiple pion production model. Both hadron multiplicity distribution, obtained from the present observation and the simulation calculation, show almost the same distribution which means that hadron bundles of such smaller multiplicities are considered to originate from successive interactions of surviving nucleon with the nature of multiple production during passage through the atmosphere.

Aoki, H.↗

Monopoles, cosmology, and astrophysics - Update 1985

The characteristics of the superheavy magnetic monopoles (MMs) predicted by GUTs are reviewed, and recent developments in astrophysical MM search techniques are surveyed. Theoretical models of the birth, current distribution, and motion of MMs are examined; the observational implications of MM mass, magnetic charge, and ability to catalyze nucleon decay are considered; estimates of the average and local flux limits for MMs of 10 to the 25th eV are given (less than about 3 x 10 to the -15th and less than about 3 x 10 to the -11th/sq cm sr sec, respectively); and the possibility of detecting MMs in the sun (if they can escape annihilation there) is discussed.

Turner, Michael S.↗

Statistical Analysis For Nucleus/Nucleus Collisions

Report describes use of several statistical techniques to charactertize angular distributions of secondary particles emitted in collisions of atomic nuclei in energy range of 24 to 61 GeV per nucleon. Purpose of statistical analysis to determine correlations between intensities of emitted particles and angles comfirming existence of quark/gluon plasma.

Mcguire, Stephen C.↗

Observations of the velocity distribution of solar wind ions

Measurements made by the Isee 3 ion composition experiment have been used to determine the kinetic temperatures of 3He(++), 4He(++), 16O(6+), and 16O(7+) in the solar wind. It is found that these temperatures generally obey the relation that T(i)/m(i) equals const, but fluctuations, some of which are caused by dynamical effects in the flow, are observed. The temperature of oxygen sometimes rises above 10 K, which is very strong evidence for heating outside the collisional region of the corona. The tendency toward equal temperatures per nucleon occurs everywhere where collisions are unimportant, suggesting that the temperatures are set up close to the sun rather than elsewhere in the interplanetary medium. The velocity distribution function of helium is observed to be non-Maxwellian, with a pronounced high velocity tail.

Ogilvie, K. W.↗

Measurements of geomagnetically trapped alpha particles, 1968-1970. I - Quiet time distributions

Results of observations of geomagnetically trapped alpha particles over the energy range from 1.18 to 8 MeV performed with the aid of the Injun 5 polar-orbiting satellite during the period from September 1968 to May 1970. Following a presentation of a time history covering this entire period, a detailed analysis is made of the magnetically quiet period from Feb. 11 to 28, 1970. During this period the alpha particle fluxes and the intensity ratio of alpha particles to protons attained their lowest values in approximately 20 months; the alpha particle intensity versus L profile was most similar to the proton profile at the same energy per nucleon interval; the intensity ratio was nearly constant as a function of L in the same energy per nucleon representation, but rose sharply with L when computed in the same total energy interval; the variation of alpha particle intensity with B suggested a steep angular distribution at small equatorial pitch angles, while the intensity ratio showed little dependence on B; and the alpha particle spectral parameter showed a markedly different dependence on L from the equivalent one for protons.

Krimigis, S. M.↗

An algorithm for a semiempirical nuclear fragmentation model

In the present paper, an algorithm for HZE (High Charge and Energy) fragmentation based upon a combination of a two step abrasion/ablation model and electromagnetic dissociation is presented. Development of the model and detailed comparison with available experimental data are given elsewhere. The abrasion process accounts for the removal of nuclear matter in the overlap region of the colliding ions. An average transmission factor is used for the projectile and target nuclei at a given impact parameter to account for the finite mean free path in nuclear matter. The ions are treated otherwise on a geometric basis assuming uniform spheres. The ablation process is treated as a single nucleon-evaporation for every 10 MeV of excitation energy as used by Bowman in the original form of the model. The charge distribution of final fragments are calculated according to the Rudstam formula, except for some correction in mass 5, 8 and 9 fragments which show strong structure effects and correspondingly significant deviation from Rudstam's values. The nuclear electromagnetic dissociation is based on the Weizsacker-Williams (WW) method of virtual quanta where due to its simplicity, the virtual photon spectrum for individual multipoles, and finite extent of the charge distribution are not included. Comparisons of the model are made with the available experimental data here and more extensively elsewhere.

NASA Program Space Medicine↗

Neutron star evolutionary sequences

Detailed numerical calculations which are solutions of the full set of general relativistic equations describing the evolution of a spherical star are presented, for the case of the evolution of neutron stars that are cooling over the central temperatures range of 10 to the 10th to 10 to the 7th K. The effects of nucleon superfluidity in the inner crust and core are included, and models are constructed with and without a pion condensate at high densities. It is found that the localized neutrino cooling which dominates the early evolution of neutron stars is so rapid that heat transport within the star cannot keep pace, and temperature distribution is not isothermal. The residual contraction of the neutron star during the early cooling phase contributes little to the heat budget of the star, and most of the gravitational energy released raises the Fermi energy of the degenerate nucleons. It is concluded that since calculations with and without pion condensate are consistent with the upper limits of current observations, these are not sufficient in distinguishing between the various models of neutron star cooling.

Richardson, M. B.↗

The path-length distribution for galactic cosmic-ray propagation - An energy-dependent depletion of short path lengths

It is shown that at low energies, the depletion of short path lengths in the interstellar cosmic-ray path-length distribution is a function of energy, decreasing in magnitude with increasing energy. The analysis leading to this conclusion is based on the comparison of compiled data for the B/C and sub-Fe/Fe ratios at 0.08-50 GeV per nucleon, with the results of detailed galactic propagation and solar modulation calculations, which include experimental values for the important nuclear cross sections. This energy dependence of the depletion resolves some of the conflicts between previous reports on the question of short path lengths and may be explained by models including a matter distribution around discrete sources or, possibly, by models invoking waves generated by particle-magnetic field interactions in the Galaxy.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗

Galactic gamma rays and the cosmic-ray halo problem

Detailed models of diffused halos of various sizes are considered. In such models, the scale perpendicular to the plane has a strong effect in determining the distribution of cosmic rays. Radial distributions were calculated for cylindrical coordinate models. The implied gamma-ray longitude distributions were then calculated and compared with the SAS-2 data. Assuming the sources to be supernova remnants or pulsars, only cosmic-ray nucleon halo models with an upper limit scale height of about 3 kpc provide a good fit to the gamma ray data. Consideration of the gamma-ray latitude data gives a half thickness of 2 + or - 2 kpc for the cosmic ray electron halo.

Stecker, F. W.↗