Hydrogen, helium, and heavy nuclei from the solar event on November 15, 1960

Journal Article · Wed May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ068i010p03109· OSTI ID:4719649

Biswas, S.; Fichtel, C. E.; Guss, D. E.; Waddington, C. J.

The flux and energy spectrums of solar hydrogen, helium, and heavy nuclei produced by the 3⁺ solar flare on November 15, 1960, were measured in nuclear emulsions recovered from three rocket flights from Fort Churchill, Canada, at 42, 52, and 74 hours after the onset of the flare. The results are compared with similar measurements from two rocket flights during the November 12, 1960, solar cosmic-ray event and one during the September 3, 1960, event. It was found that the helium and medium nuclei had similar energy spectrums, steeper than those of protons in the energy interval from about 30 to 130 Mev/ nucleon. The rigidity spectrum of hydrogen, helium, and medium nuclei was similar within experimental errors. The relative abundances of He, C, N, O and heavier nuclei were the same within the uncertainties each time a measurement was made. The average ratio of the helium to medium nuclei is 60 e due to uraniu 7. The composition of these nuclei is similar to that of the solar atmosphere but significantly different from that of the galactic cosmic rays. The time dependence of the ratios of the protons to helium nuclei and protons to medium nuclei is compared with the predictions of the models for the solar particle propagation of Parker and Gold. The experimental results are found to be consistent with a general diffusion model having strong scattering centers in the inner solar system and a boundary region consisting of progressively weaker scattering centers at large distances from the sun. The data can be interpreted as indicating that the diffusion coefficient is mainly velocity-dependent during the early part of the event, normally the first day or so, whereas at later times it is also a function of rigidity. (auth)

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, Md.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-024220
• OSTI ID: 4719649
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 68; ISSN 0148-0227
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALPHA PARTICLES
ASTROPHYSICS
CANADA
CARBON
COSMIC RADIATION
DIFFUSION
DISTRIBUTION
EMISSION
ENERGY
HELIUM
HYDROGEN
MEASURED VALUES
MOTION
NITROGEN
NUCLEAR EMULSIONS
NUCLEI
OXYGEN
PARTICLE TRACKS
PHYSICS
PROTONS
ROCKETS
SCATTERING
SOLAR FLARES
SPACE
SUN
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY