ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION OF THE LO ENERGY HELIUM NUCLEI IN THE PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1961 · Physical Review (U.S.) Superseded in part by Phys. Rev. A, Phys. Rev. B: Solid State, Phys. Rev. C, and Phys. Rev. D

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.123.295· OSTI ID:4029703

Rao Appa, M V.K.

The isotopic composition of low-energy helium nuclei in the primary cosmic radiation is determined by using the "constant sagitta" scattering method on tracks of helium nuclei stopping in a nuclear-emulsion stack flown at a geomagnetic latitude of 55 deg N and at a mean atmospheric depth of 8.5 g/cm/sup 2/; tracks with zenith angles less than 30 deg are accepted. The ratio of He/ sup 3//(He/sup 3/ + He4) for the same energy per nucleon (between 200 and 400 Mev) is found to be 0.41 plus or minus 0.09 at flight altitude. The correction for production of secondary He/sup 3/ in the residual atmosphere is calculated to be 4%. If one assumes that no He/sup 3/ nuclei are present at the source, the observed ratio corresponds to a traversal of 14 plus or minus 3 g of interstellar matter by the lowenergy helium nuclei. The value of He/sup 3//(He/ sup 3/ + He/sup 4/) corresponding to the same magnetic rigidity (between 1.3 and 1.6 Bv) is found to be 0.36 plus or minus 0.11 which corresponds to a traversal of 12.2 plus or minus 3.5 g of interstellar matter. The observed ratio may indicate the presence of He/sup 3/ at the source of cosmic rays, or may be a reflection of local production within the solar system. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rochester, N.Y.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-024198
• OSTI ID: 4029703
• Report Number(s): NYO-9553; 0031-899X
• Journal Information: Physical Review (U.S.) Superseded in part by Phys. Rev. A, Phys. Rev. B: Solid State, Phys. Rev. C, and Phys. Rev. D, Vol. Vol: 123; Other Information: NYO-9553. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-61
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

PHYSICS
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
BALLOONS
COSMIC RADIATION
EARTH
ENERGY RANGE
FISSION
GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES
HELIUM 3
HELIUM 4
HELIUM ISOTOPES
HYDROGEN
INTERACTIONS
LEVELS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURED VALUES
MOMENTUM
NUCLEAR EMULSIONS
NUCLEI
PARTICLE TRACKS
PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION SOURCES
SCATTERING
SPACE
STARS
STRATOSPHERE