Characteristics of the Termination Shock: Insights from Voyager

We examine the energy spectra obtained from the cosmic ray instrument on the Voyager 1 spacecraft during 2002/215 through 2005/60. We find that the energy spectra of protons below ~20 MeV often resemble two power laws with a relatively hard index at low energies and a softer index at higher energies. The point of intersection of the two power laws is ~3 MeV. Beginning in 2005, the low-energy index is typically –1.5, corresponding to a shock strength (compression ratio) of 2.5. We attribute these characteristics to a restricted region of the solar wind termination shock that is sporadically connected to the Voyager 1 spacecraft by the interplanetary magnetic field. The absence of significant spectral variability in 2005 suggests that Voyager 1 entered a region with minimal spatial gradients of the lowest energy ions

The anomalous cosmic-ray component

This brief report is intended to update the anomalous component section of the summary report of the galactic cosmic-ray working group (Mewaldt et al., 1987), which was drafted at the March 1987 Workshop on the Interplanetary Charged Particle Environment at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The description of the spectrum of the anomalous cosmic-ray component is contained in section 3.3 of that report. That description is based on data analyzed through day 310 of 1986, and in it we proposed that the energy spectrum of the various species of the anomalous component could be derived by scaling from two generic spectra. Two generic spectra were required because the energy spectrum of the anomalous component changed shape near the time of the solar magnetic field reversal in 1980. These two generic spectra are shown in Figure 2 of the summary report

Laser-induced thermal acoustics (LITA) signals from finite beams

Laser-induced thermal acoustics (LITA) is a four-wave mixing technique that may be employed to measure sound speeds, transport properties, velocities, and susceptibilities of fluids. It is particularly effective in high-pressure gases (>1 bar). An analytical expression for LITA signals is derived by the use of linearized equations of hydrodynamics and light scattering. This analysis, which includes full finite-beam-size effects and the optoacoustic effects of thermalization and electrostriction, predicts the amplitude and the time history of narrow-band time-resolved LITA and broadband spectrally resolved (multiplex) LITA signals. The time behavior of the detected LITA signal depends significantly on the detection solid angle, with implications for the measurement of diffusivities by the use of LITA and the proper physical picture of LITA scattering. This and other elements of the physics of LITA that emerge from the analysis are discussed. Theoretical signals are compared with experimental LITA data

Ultracold neutral plasma expansion in two dimensions

We extend an isothermal thermal model of ultracold neutral plasma expansion to systems without spherical symmetry, and use this model to interpret new fluorescence measurements on these plasmas. By assuming a self-similar expansion, it is possible to solve the fluid equations analytically and to include velocity effects to predict the fluorescence signals. In spite of the simplicity of this approach, the model reproduces the major features of the experimental data

MULTIPAC, a multiple pool processor and computer for a spacecraft central data system, phase 2 Final report

MULTIPAC, multiple pool processor and computer for deep space probe central data syste

The Ionic Charge State Composition at High Energies in Large Solar Energetic Particle Events in Solar Cycle 23

The ionic charge states of solar energetic particles (SEPs) depend upon the temperature of the source material and on the environment encountered during acceleration and transport during which electron stripping may occur. Measurements of SEP charge states at relatively high energies (≳15 MeV/nucleon) are possible with the Mass Spectrometer Telescope (MAST) on the Solar, Anomalous, and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer satellite by using the Earth's magnetic field as a particle rigidity filter. Using MAST data, we have determined ionic charge states of Fe and other elements in several of the largest SEP events of solar cycle 23. The charge states appear to be correlated with elemental abundances, with high charge states (~20 for Fe) for all elements in large Fe-rich events. We review the geomagnetic filter technique and summarize the results from MAST to date, with particular emphasis on new measurements in the very large 14 July 2000 SEP event. We compare the charge states determined by MAST with other measurements and with those expected from equilibrium calculations

Fluorescence measurements of expanding strongly-coupled neutral plasmas

We report new detailed density profile measurements in expanding strongly-coupled neutral plasmas. Using laser-induced fluorescence techniques, we determine plasma densities in the range of 10^5 to 10^9/cm^3 with a time resolution limit as small as 7 ns. Strong-coupling in the plasma ions is inferred directly from the fluorescence signals. Evidence for strong-coupling at late times is presented, confirming a recent theoretical result.Comment: submitted to PR

The Intensities of Cosmic Ray H and He Nuclei at ~250 MeV/nuc Measured by Voyagers 1 and 2 - Using these Intensities to Determine the Solar Modulation Parameter in the Inner Heliosphere and the Heliosheath Over a 40 Year Time Period

We have determined the solar modulation potential, phi, vs. time that is observed at Voyager 1 and 2 from measurements of the H and He nuclei intensities at a common energy of 250 MeVnuc. The H nuclei have a rigidity 0.7 GV, the He nuclei 1.4 GV. These measurements cover a 40 year time period, which includes almost 4 cycles of solar 11 year sunspot variations, throughout the inner heliosphere out to the HTS at distances of 95 AU and 85 AU, respectively at V1 and V2, and then beyond in the heliosheath. Inside the HTS the modulation potential vs. time curves at V1 and V2 show a very similar temporal structure to those observed at the Earth. During a later period of maximum solar modulation from 2000.0 to 2005.0 when V1 and V2 are in the outer heliosphere between 60-94 AU, the main temporal features of the modulation potential curves at all 3 locations match up with appropriate time delays at V1 and V2 if it is assumed that spatially coherent structures are moving outward past V1 and V2, with outward speeds of up to 700 Kms negative 1. After 2004.0 V1 and V2 are at latitudes of positive 35 and negative 30 respectively, placing lower limits on the latitude extent of these structures. Beyond the HTS in the heliosheath the modulation potential slowly decreases at both spacecraft with only a weak evidence of the unusual modulation minimum observed at the Earth in 2009, for example. A sudden decrease of the modulation potential 50 MV for both H and He nuclei occurs at V1 just before the heliopause crossing at about 122 AU. This decrease has not yet been observed at V2, which is now at 113 AU and still observing a modulation potential 60 MV.Comment: 28 pages, 9 Figure