COSMIC RAYS AND COSMIC SPACE (in Russian)
An account is given of recent studies of cosmic rays utilizing both earthbound stations and artificial earth satellites. Phenomena recently uncovered by sputniks are described. A description is given of the cosmic ray laboratory of Moscow University. A particle possessing an energy of l0/sup 15/ ev was detected and the equipment and procedure by which this was done are described. mu mesons in a particle shower produced by cosmic rays were detected at a depth of thirty meters underground. The apparatus required in the sputriks for the study of cosmic rays outside the earth's atmosphere is discussed. The equipment in the sputniks launched to date was transistorized; scintillation counters were used to determine particle energies. A description is given of the large burst of radiation detected by the second sputnik on Nov. 7, 1957. This burst was observed only at latitudes of about 50 to 70 degrees north latitude. The third sputnik had a scintillation counter of high sensitivity which detected relatively weak fluxes of electrons. This equipment fixed the location of the high intensity radiation belt around the earth. A typical graph of count rate and energy current versus geographic location is given. Data are given that indicate the coincidence of peak radiation intensities with those regions where the aurora borealis is seen. The radiation belt extends up to approximately 60,000 km from the earth's surface and is bounded by the magnetic lines of force that intersect the earth' s surface at geomagnetic latitudes of 55 deg and 70 deg . The earth's magnetic field traps these particles and holds them in an orbit that follows magnetic lines of force and oscillates from the northern to the southern hemisphere for long periods of time. A diagram is given of the trajectory of the first Soviet cosmic rocket and changes in radiation intensity along this trajectory are indicated. A maximum radiation intensity was detected at a distance of 20,000 km from the earth's surface. A diagram compares the data of the first and second Soviet cosmic rockets. It is indicated that radiation intensity in the outer belt varies with time due to variation of emanations from the sun. The energy spectrum of radiation in the outer belt was obtained with gas discharge and scintillation counters installed behind varying amounts of lead, copper, and aluminum shielding. Results are given in a diagram of particle and energy flux versus distance from the earth. The conclusion is reached that the outer radiation belt consists of electrons whose energies vary over six orders of magnitude. However the data from the second rocket indicated that the upper limit of electron energies appears to be 5 Mev. The electron flux is highest at an energy of about 1 Mev. It is pointed out that in the outer radiation belt the energy density of radiation approaches its maximum possible value, that is, the energy density of the earth's magnetic field at that distance. A discussion is given of the inner radiation belt, first described by Van Allen. No evidence of radiation belts about the moon was found. A discussion of the possible origins of the outer radiation belt of the earth and of other radiation belts and magnetic fields in space is given. In the study of solar flares, 1500 radiosonde balloon flights were made during the IGY. These flights established that solar flares are an extreme hazard for space travelers. (TTT)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-000818
- OSTI ID:
- 4123384
- Journal Information:
- Vestnik Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R., Vol. Vol: 30; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-61
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- Russian
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