Energetic particle influence on the Earth's atmosphere

This manuscript gives an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the effects of energetic particle precipitation (EPP) onto the whole atmosphere, from the lower thermosphere/mesosphere through the stratosphere and troposphere, to the surface. The paper summarizes the different sources and energies of particles, principally galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), solar energetic particles (SEPs) and energetic electron precipitation (EEP). All the proposed mechanisms by which EPP can affect the atmosphere are discussed, including chemical changes in the upper atmosphere and lower thermosphere, chemistry-dynamics feedbacks, the global electric circuit and cloud formation. The role of energetic particles in Earth’s atmosphere is a multi-disciplinary problem that requires expertise from a range of scientific backgrounds. To assist with this synergy, summary tables are provided, which are intended to evaluate the level of current knowledge of the effects of energetic particles on processes in the entire atmosphere

Annotation of Hans Bethe’s paper, Zeitschrift fur Physik 76, 293 (1932), “Braking Formula for Electrons of Relativistic Speed”

We present an annotation of Hans Bethe’s “Bremsformel für Elektronen relativistischer Geschwindigkeit” [Zeitschrift für Physik 76, 293 (1932)] (Braking Formula for Electrons of Relativistic Speed). The English translation of the paper appears as a companion to this annotation. We highlight the conceptual and historical aspects of the relevant quantum electrodynamics employed by Bethe, provide details in the derivation of several equations, and point out some typographical errors in the original manuscript