DIURNAL VARIATION OF COSMIC RADIATION INTENSITY PRODUCED BY A SOLAR WIND

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962 · Planetary and Space Sci.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0032-0633(62)90148-4· OSTI ID:4810052

Ahluwalia, H S; Dessler, A J

Starting from the concept that the solar magnetic field is twisted into an Archimedes spiral, which on the average rotates with the sun, it is shown that a diurnal variation in cosmic ray intensity is produced. Cosmic rays tend to entrapped in the rotating spiral magnetic field; the guiding centers of such particles move past the earth with a velocity of several hundred km/sec. (The guiding center velocicity vector is a function of the angular velocity of the sun and the velocity of the solar wind.) It is shown that relativistic effects caused by this guiding center motion can produce a diurnal variation in cosmic ray intensity. Because the amplitude and direction of maximum intensity depend on the solar wind velocity, a measurement of the diurnal variation of cosmic ray intensity allows an estimate to be made of the solar wind velocity. On the basis of cosmic radiation data, it is concluded that the solar wind velocity is usually of the order of 300 km/sec and seldom falls below 100 km/sec, even at sunspot minimum. (auth)

• Research Organization: Physical Research Lab., Ahmedabad, India
• NSA Number: NSA-16-026059
• OSTI ID: 4810052
• Journal Information: Planetary and Space Sci., Journal Name: Planetary and Space Sci. Vol. Vol: 9
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CONFIGURATION
COSMIC RADIATION
DIURNAL VARIATION
EARTH
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MOTION
PHYSICS
PRODUCTION
ROTATION
SOLAR WIND
SPACE
SUN
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY