Long-term variations of the cosmic ray north-south anisotropy and the radial cosmic ray gradient at high rigidity

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA093iA06p05890· OSTI ID:6907888

Swinson, D B

Data from the Embudo underground cosmic ray muon telescope from 1965 to 1985 have been analyzed as a function of the polarity of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), B, to examine long-term variations in the cosmic ray north-south anisotropy. B x delN/sub R/, resulting from the interaction of B and delN/sub R/, the radial component of the heliocentric cosmic ray density gradient. The direction of the cosmic ray north-south anisotropy is shown to be essentially constant over this period, and the extraterrestrial nature of the anisotropy is confirmed. The magnitude of the anisotropy is shown to be only weakly dependent on solar activity and to be independent of the magnetic polarity of the solar dipole which is the source of the IMF B. By inference, it is concluded that the radial heliocentric cosmic ray density gradient at high rigidity does not show a large variation with solar activity or with solar magnetic polarity. copyright American Geophysical Union 1988

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
• OSTI ID: 6907888
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 93:A6; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASYMMETRY
COSMIC RADIATION
DIPOLES
ENERGY DENSITY
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAGNETIC DIPOLES
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MULTIPOLES
NORTH-SOUTH ASYMMETRY
RADIATIONS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
VARIATIONS