Implications of multiply-charged anomalous cosmic rays

During the acceleration of anomalous cosmic rays (ACRs) some singly-charged ions are stripped of additional electrons. The resulting multiply-charged ions are accelerated more efficiently, and most ACRs with >=30 MeV/nuc are multiply-charged. This paper considers some implications of multiply-charged ACRs, including limits that they place on the time scales for ACR acceleration and transport, and their use in defining the cutoff in the accelerated ACR spectrum. Possible causes of the spectral cutoff in three ACR acceleration models are discussed

New views of solar energetic particles from the Advanced Composition Explorer

Since its launch in August 1997, the Advanced Composition Explorer has been measuring the elemental, isotopic, and ionic charge-state composition of solar energetic particles with three new, high-resolution instruments (SEPICA, SIS, and ULEIS). These studies span the energy range from ~20 keV/nucleon to >100 MeV/nucleon, and include elements from He to Ni (2≤Z≤28). This paper reviews early highlights of these investigations and discusses the implications for theories of the origin, acceleration, and transport of solar energetic particles

Elemental composition and energy spectra of galactic cosmic rays

A brief review is presented of the major features of the elemental composition and energy spectra of galactic cosmic rays. The requirements for phenomenological models of cosmic ray composition and energy spectra are discussed, and possible improvements to an existing model are suggested

Cosmic ray He-3 measurements

The rare isotopes H-2 and He-3 in cosmic rays are believed to be of secondary origin produced by nuclear interactions of primary H-1 and He-4 with the interstellar medium. There has recently been renewed interest in these isotopes as a result of indications from high energy antiproton, positron, and He-3 observations that the origin of some primary H and He nuclei may differ from that of heavier cosmic rays. A new observation of low energy He-3 is examined. Previously reported He-3 and He-4 measurements at both low and high energies are examined and compared with calculations of the expected He-3 and He-4 ratio at 1 AU. No evidence for an excess of low energy He-3 such as that reported at high energies was found

Simulation of Charge-Equilibration and Acceleration of Solar Energetic Ions

Recent measurements of the mean ionic charge states of solar energetic iron and silicon by SAMPEX and ACE during the large solar events of 1992 November 1 and 1997 November 6 show a mean ionic charge that increases with energy. This feature has implications for the use of the observed charge state as a probe of the coronal electron temperature and density, as well as for models of ion acceleration and transport in the coronal plasma. In this paper, we show results of a nonequilibrium model for the mean ionic charge that includes shock-induced acceleration in addition to charge-changing processes. The model is able to reproduce the general features observed without, however, specifying uniquely the acceleration time and the plasma electron density. Based on our simulations for iron and silicon for the 1992 and 1997 events, and assuming a characteristic shock-acceleration time of ~10 sec, our model suggests an equilibration-acceleration site at heights ~1 solar radius above the solar surface, a density ~10^9 cm^(–3), and an electron temperature ~1–1.33 MK. For ions with kinetic energy ≳ 30 MeV/nucleon we estimate the amount of coronal material the ions traverse to be ~100 µg/cm^2

The Transition from Singly to Multiply-Charged Anomalous Cosmic Rays: Simulation and Interpretation of SAMPEX Observations

Multiply-charged anomalous cosmic rays (ACRs) can arise when singly-charged ACR ions are stripped of one or more of their electrons during their acceleration via, e.g., the process of diffusive shock-drift acceleration at the solar-wind termination shock. Recent measurements of the charge states of ACR neon, oxygen, and nitrogen by SAMPEX at 1 AU have shown that above ≈ 25 MeV/nucleon these ions are multiply charged. In addition, SAMPEX observations have also established that the transition from mostly singly-charged to mostly multiply-charged ACRs (defined as the 50% point) occurs at a total kinetic energy of ≈ 350 MeV. Preliminary simulations for ACR oxygen based on a theory of multiply-charged ACRs were able to show a transition energy at ≈ 300 MeV. However, the simulated intensity distribution among the various charge states was inconsistent with observations. This paper reexamines the predictions of the theory in light of new SAMPEX ACR observations and recently developed and refined estimates of hydrogen-impact ionization cross sections. Based on simulations for multi-species ACR ions, we find that the transition energy is only weakly dependent on characteristic transport parameters, and that the new ionization rates distribute the intensity among the charge states in a manner consistent with observations. The calculated transition energy is in excellent agreement with the measured value

Reduction and analysis of data from experiment CAI on the IMP-8 mission

The Caltech Electron/Isotope Spectrometer (EIS) on the Interplanetary Monitoring Platform 8 (IMP-8) has provided precise measurements of the energy spectra and time variations of low energy electrons (0.16 to 6 MeV), the isotopes of hydrogen and helium (approximately 2 to 40 MeV/nucleon), and the elements from lithium through oxygen (approximately 5 to 50 MeV/nucleon) in energetic particle fluxes of solar, galactic, interplanetary, and magnetospheric origin since 1973. The accomplishments that have resulted from EIS measurements during the period March 24, 1980 to December 31, 1984 are summarized

Solar cycle variations of the anomalous cosmic ray component

The intensity of the anomalous cosmic ray component, consisting of He, N, O, and Ne, has long been known to be especially sensitive to the effects of solar modulation. Following its discovery in 1972, this component dominated the quiet time flux of cosmic ray nuclei below approx. 30 MeV/nucleon during the 1972 to 1978 solar minimum, but then became essentially unobservable at 1 AU with the approach of solar maximum conditions. One recent theoretical model predicts substantial differences in the intensity of the anomalous fluxes from one solar minimum period to the next because of the reversal of the solar magnetic field. Using data from the Caltech experiments on IMP-8 and ICE (ISEE-3), the intensity of anomalous O and He at 1 AU during the years 1972 to 1985 is reported in particular. Whether the anomalous fluxes will return to their 1972-1978 levels, as predicted by spherically symmetric modulation models, or whether they will fail to return to 1 AU, as suggested by modulation models in which gradient and curvature drifts dominate are to be determined. The preliminary analysis of data from 1984 shows that the intensity of 8 to 27 MeV/nucleon O is still more than an order of magnitude below its 1972 to 1978 levels, while the intensity of 25 to 43 MeV/nucleon He is a factor of Approx. 8 below its maximum level in 1977