Comparison of the solar cosmic ray events on May 7, 1978, and November 22, 1977

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA089iA02p00769· OSTI ID:7010328

Debrunner, H; Flueckiger, E; Lockwood, J J; McGuire, R E

An analysis has been made of the solar cosmic ray events on May 7, 1978, and November 22, 1977, to determine the energy spectra of the solar protons from 50 MeV to 10 GeV, the pitch angle distributions, the intensity-time profiles, and the anisotropy-time profiles. Data from neutron monitors and IMP 7 and 8 satellites were used. It is found that the energy spectra of the solar protons obtained from neutron monitors and satellite observations are in good agreement in the overlapping energy range when the pitch angle distribution is taken into account. The energy spectra covering three decades of energy and eight decades of intensity and their time variations were remarkably similar for the two events. The difference in the neutron monitor responses for the events was mainly due to the different pitch angle distributions. For the prompt particle event on May 7, 1978, the shapes of the intensity-time profiles for various energies are the result of the energy dependence of the time-extended injection of particles into the interplanetary medium. This event is especially important for the study of the acceleration of solar particles and their subsequent injection into the interplanetary medium. For the November 22, 1977, event even though the propagation of the solar protons in the IMF was essentially diffusive, the solar particle injection was also observed to be time extended and energy dependent.

• Research Organization: Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern
• OSTI ID: 7010328
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 89:A2; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
BARYONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY SPECTRA
FERMIONS
HADRONS
IMP SATELLITES
INCLINATION
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
NUCLEONS
PLASMA ACCELERATION
PROTONS
RADIATIONS
SATELLITES
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR PROTONS
SOLAR RADIATION
SPACE
SPECTRA
STELLAR RADIATION