Spatial Intensity Profiles of Galactic Cosmic Rays in the Heliosphere
- School of Physics, Northwest University, Potchefstroom 2520 (South Africa)
- Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740 (United States)
We study the spatial intensity profiles of galactic cosmic ray protons (H) and {alpha}-particles (He) during the solar minimum periods of 1987 (the so-called negative drift state) and 1977/1997 (both positive drift states) of the heliosphere. These intensities were measured with the Pioneer, Voyager and IMP spacecraft. The 1997 intensities were so low that one cannot readily explain them, even with the acceleration at the solar wind termination shock (SWTS) and modulation in the heliosheath included. Our heliospheric model is azimuthally symmetric with a spherical shock and heliopause, however, and we infer from its results that more realistic geometries may produce modulation effects that will explain the observations better.
- OSTI ID:
- 20633019
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 719; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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