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A quasi-linear kinetic equation for cosmic rays in the interplanetary medium. Interim report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7141365
A kinetic equation for interplanetary cosmic rays is set up with the aid of weak plasma turbulence theory for an idealized radially symmetric model of the interplanetary magnetic field. As a starting point, this treatment invokes the Vlasov equation instead of the traditional Fokker--Planck equation. Quasilinear theory is applied to obtain a momentum diffusion equation, for the heliocentric frame of reference, which describes the interaction of cosmic rays with convecting magnetic irregularities in the solar wind plasma. Under restricted conditions, the well known equation of solar modulation can be obtained from the kinetic equation. (GRA)
Research Organization:
Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, Calif. (USA)
OSTI ID:
7141365
Report Number(s):
AD-A-023849
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English