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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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The Energy Spectra of Proton and Helium Measured from the ATIC Experiment

The Advanced Thin Ionization Calorimeter (ATIC) balloon experiment is designed to investigate the composition and energy spectra of cosmic rays at the highest energies currently accessible from direct measurements, the region up to 100 TeV. The instrument consists of a silicon matrix for charge measurement, a graphite target (0.75 nuclear interaction length) to induce hadronic fragmentation, 3 scintillator strip hodoscopes for triggering and helping reconstruct trajectory, and a BGO calorimeter (18 radiation lengths) to measure the energy of incident particles. ATIC had two successful Long Duration Balloon (LDB) flights from McMurdo, Antarctica: from 12/28/00 to 01/13/01 and from 12/29/02 to 01/18/03. We present the energy spectra of proton and helium extracted from the ATIC flights, over the energy range from 100 GeV to 100 TeV, and compare them with the results from other experiments at both the lower and higher energy ends.

Ahn, H. S.↗

How are particle production, nucleon emission and target fragment evaporation processes interrelated in hadron-nucleus collisions?

Relations between particle production, nucleon emission, and fragment evaporation processes were searched for in hadron-nucleus collisions. It was stated that: (1) the nucleon emission and target fragment evaporation proceed independently of the particle production process; and (2) relation between multiplicities of the emitted protons and of the evaporated charged fragments is expressed by simple formula.

Strugalski, Z.↗

Grand unified theories, topological defects and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays

The ultrahigh-energy (UHE) proton and neutrino spectra resulting from collapse or annihilations of topological defects surviving from the GUT era are calculated. Irrespective of the specific process under consideration (which determines the overall normalization of the spectrum), the UHE proton spectrum always 'recovers' at approximately 1.8 x 10 exp 11 GeV after a partial Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min 'cutoff' at approximately 5 x 10 exp 10 GeV and continues to a GUT-scale energy with a universal shape determined by the physics of hadronic jet fragmentation. Implications of our results are discussed.

Bhattacharjee, Pijushpani↗

Grand unified theories, topological defects, and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays

The ultrahigh-energy (UHE) proton and neutrino spectra resulting from collapse or annihilations of topological defects surviving from the GUT era are calculated. Irrespective of the specific process under consideration (which determines the overall normalization of the spectrum), the UHE proton spectrum always 'recovers' at approximately 1.8 x 10 exp 11 GeV after a partial Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min 'cutoff' at approximately 5 x 10 exp 10 GeV and continues to a GUT-scale energy with a universal shape determined by the physics of hadronic jet fragmentation. Implications of the results are discussed.

Bhattacharjee, Pijushpani↗

A cosmic ray super high energy multicore family event. 2: Structure and fragmentation characteristics of the jets

Quarks and gluons are not directly observable, but may be displayed through fragmentation in the form of hadronic jets, the evidence of which was first revealed in cosmic ray interactions before the advent of the modern theory of strong interactions. Experimental results from ISR and SPPS collider rendered the jet phenomena more confident and definite. All the properties of jets observed up to now at ISR and SPPS collider are in agreement with the predictions of QCD. In order to make further test of QCD in still higher energy regions, detailed study of super high energy jet events in cosmic rays is very desirable. The event KO E19 observed in the Mt. Kambala emulsion chamber is an interesting event for such study. The general features of KO E19 is described. Its total visible energy is sigma E sub gamma = 1537 TeV(E sub min = 1.5 TeV) and production height H=(70 + or - 30)m, with a hadron as its primary particle. Besides about forty small clusters, there are five super high energy cores or jets, one lying near the center of the event while the other four surrounding it, having incident directions making small angles with that of the primary particle. Detailed analysis is done on the emulsion plates inserted in the chamber, making full use of their fine granularity, superior in detecting and analyzing jet events, specially their substructures.

Source record↗

Scaling violation in fragmentation region at energies above 10-15 eV based on the data on cosmic ray hadron component

The ratio of intensity of energetic hadrons, having no visible accompaniment, to the total flux of hadrons of the same energy at 4380m above sea level is given. The ratio is much more than expected for scaling model with proton primaries. This result could not be explained by complex chemical composition of primary cosmic ray and indicates the scaling violation in fragmentation region.

Source record↗

Optical model calculations of 14.6A GeV silicon fragmentation cross sections

An optical potential abrasion-ablation collision model is used to calculate hadronic dissociation cross sections for a 14.6 A GeV(exp 28) Si beam fragmenting in aluminum, tin, and lead targets. The frictional-spectator-interaction (FSI) contributions are computed with two different formalisms for the energy-dependent mean free path. These estimates are compared with experimental data and with estimates obtained from semi-empirical fragmentation models commonly used in galactic cosmic ray transport studies.

Townsend, Lawrence W.↗

A cosmic ray super high multicore family event. 1: Experiment and general features

Information on the fragmentation region in super high energy hadronic interactions can be obtained through the observations of gamma-ray families produced by cosmic rays. Gamma-ray families with the sum of E sub gamma or 1000 TeV are receiving increasing interests in emulsion chamber experiments. There exist some complications caused by the superposition of nuclear and electromagnetic cascades and the uncertainty in the nature of the primary particles. These complications usually make the conclusions drawn from various interesting phenomena observed in family events not so definite. An interesting family event KO E19, which is likely to have suffered only very slight disturbances is described. It was found in the Mt. Kambala emulsion chamber experiment. The production height of the event is determined to be H=(70 + or - 30)m and some conclusions are given.

Ren, J. R.↗

Scaling violation in the fragmentation region of inclusive nucleon spektrum

Spectra of cosmic ray showers associated with hadrons of various energies from 5 to 80 TeV were investigated. Results could be interpreted as scaling violation in the fragmentation region of secondary particles generated in inelastic interactions of primary protons at the energy above 30 TeV.

Machavariani, S. K.↗

Propagation of cosmic rays through the atmosphere in the quark-gluon strings model

The quark-gluon strings model succeeds in the description of multiple hadron production in the central rapidity region of nucleon-nucleon interctions. This model was developed for hadron-nucleus interactions and used for calculation of the cosmic ray propagation through the atmosphere. It is shown that at energies 10 to the 11th power to the 12th power eV, this model gives a satisfactory description of experimental data. But with the increase of the energy up to approximately 10 to the 14th power eV, results of calculations and of experiments begin to differ and this difference rises with the energy. It may indicate that the scaling violation in the fragmentation region of inclusive spectra for hadron-nucleus interactions is stronger than in the quark-gluon strings model.

Erlykin, A. D.↗

Recent measurements for hadrontherapy and space radiation: nuclear physics

The particles and energies commonly used for hadron therapy overlap the low end of the charge and energy range of greatest interest for space radiation applications, Z=1-26 and approximately 100-1000 MeV/nucleon. It has been known for some time that the nuclear interactions of the incident ions must be taken into account both in treatment planning and in understanding and addressing the effects of galactic cosmic ray ions on humans in space. Until relatively recently, most of the studies of nuclear fragmentation and transport in matter were driven by the interests of the nuclear physics and later, the hadron therapy communities. However, the experimental and theoretical methods and the accelerator facilities developed for use in heavy ion nuclear physics are directly applicable to radiotherapy and space radiation studies. I will briefly review relevant data taken recently at various accelerators, and discuss the implications of the measurements for radiotherapy, radiobiology and space radiation research.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

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.↗

Calculations of hadronic dissociation of 28Si 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 28Si beam fragmenting in aluminum, tin, and lead targets. These estimates are compared with recent semi-inclusive measurements. Significant differences between some calculated and measured semi-inclusive 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 semi-inclusive cross sections are presented and discussed.

NASA Program Radiation Health↗

Emulsion chamber observations and interpretation (HE 3)

Experimental results from Emulsion Chamber (EC) experiments at mountain altitudes or at higher levels using flying carriers are examined. The physical interest in this field is concentrated on the strong interaction at the very high energy region exceeding the accelerator energy, also on the primary cosmic ray intensity and its chemical composition. Those experiments which observed cosmic ray secondaries gave information on high energy interaction characteristics through the analyses of secondary spectra, gamma-hadron families and C-jets (direct observation of the particle production occuring at the carbon target). Problems of scaling violation in fragmentation region, interaction cross section, transverse momentum of produced secondaries, and some peculiar features of exotic events are discussed.

Shibata, M.↗

Electromagnetic Dissociation and Spacecraft Electronics Damage

When protons or heavy ions from galactic cosmic rays (GCR) or solar particle events (SPE) interact with target nuclei in spacecraft, there can be two different types of interactions. The more familiar strong nuclear interaction often dominates and is responsible for nuclear fragmentation in either the GCR or SPE projectile nucleus or the spacecraft target nucleus. (Of course, the proton does not break up, except possibly to produce pions or other hadrons.) The less familiar, second type of interaction is due to the very strong electromagnetic fields that exist when two charged nuclei pass very close to each other. This process is called electromagnetic dissociation (EMD) and primarily results in the emission of neutrons, protons and light ions (isotopes of hydrogen and helium). The cross section for particle production is approximately defined as the number of particles produced in nucleus-nucleus collisions or other types of reactions. (There are various kinematic and other factors which multiply the particle number to arrive at the cross section.) Strong, nuclear interactions usually dominate the nuclear reactions of most interest that occur between GCR and target nuclei. However, for heavy nuclei (near Fe and beyond) at high energy the EMD cross section can be much larger than the strong nuclear interaction cross section. This paper poses a question: Are there projectile or target nuclei combinations in the interaction of GCR or SPE where the EMD reaction cross section plays a dominant role? If the answer is affirmative, then EMD mechanisms should be an integral part of codes that are used to predict damage to spacecraft electronics. The question can become more fine-tuned and one can ask about total reaction cross sections as compared to double differential cross sections. These issues will be addressed in the present paper.

Norbury, John W.↗

Sensitivity of depth of maximum and absorption depth of EAS to hadron production mechanism

Comparison of experimental data on depth of extensive air showers (EAS) development maximum in the atmosphere, T sub M and path of absorption, lambda, in the lower atmosphere of EAS with fixed particle number in the energy region eV with the results of calculation show that these parameters are sensitive mainly to the inelastic interaction cross section and scaling violation in the fragmentation and pionization region. The data are explained in a unified manner within the framework of a model in which scaling is violated slightly in the fragmentation region and strongly in the pionization region at primary cosmic rays composition close to the normal one and a permanent increase of inelastic interaction cross section. It is shown that, while interpreting the experimental data, disregard of two methodical points causes a systematic shift in T sub M: (1) shower selection system; and (2) EAS electron lateral distribution when performing the calculations on basis of which the transfer is made from the Cerenkov pulse FWHM to the depth of shower maximum, T sub M.

Antonov, R. A.↗

High energy gamma-rays and hadrons at Mount Fuji

The energy spectra of high energy gamma-rays and hadrons were obtained by the emulsion chamber with 40 c.u. thickness at Mt. Fuji (3750 m). These results are compared with the Monte Carlo calculation based on the same model which is used in a family analysis. Our data are compatible with the model of heavy-enriched primary and scaling in the fragmentation region.

Amenomori, M.↗

Assessment and Requirements of Nuclear Reaction Databases for GCR Transport in the Atmosphere and Structures

The transport properties of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) in the atmosphere, material structures, and human body (self-shielding) am of interest in risk assessment for supersonic and subsonic aircraft and for space travel in low-Earth orbit and on interplanetary missions. Nuclear reactions, such as knockout and fragmentation, present large modifications of particle type and energies of the galactic cosmic rays in penetrating materials. We make an assessment of the current nuclear reaction models and improvements in these model for developing required transport code data bases. A new fragmentation data base (QMSFRG) based on microscopic models is compared to the NUCFRG2 model and implications for shield assessment made using the HZETRN radiation transport code. For deep penetration problems, the build-up of light particles, such as nucleons, light clusters and mesons from nuclear reactions in conjunction with the absorption of the heavy ions, leads to the dominance of the charge Z = 0, 1, and 2 hadrons in the exposures at large penetration depths. Light particles are produced through nuclear or cluster knockout and in evaporation events with characteristically distinct spectra which play unique roles in the build-up of secondary radiation's in shielding. We describe models of light particle production in nucleon and heavy ion induced reactions and make an assessment of the importance of light particle multiplicity and spectral parameters in these exposures.

Cucinotta, F. A.↗