Solar Cosmic Rays


Book Description

It turned out to be really a rare and happy occasion that we know exact1y when and how a new branch of space physics was born, namely, a physics of solar cosmic rays. It happened on February 28 and March 7, 1942 when the fIrst "cosmic ray bursts" were recorded on the Earth, and the Sun was unambiguously identifIed for the fIrst time as the source of high-velocity 10 particles with energies up to > 10 eV. Just due to such a high energy these relativistic particles have been called "solar cosmic rays" (SCR), in distinction from the "true" cosmic rays of galactic origin. Between 1942 and the beginning ofthe space era in 1957 only extremely high energy solar particle events could be occasionally recorded by cosmic ray ground-Ievel detectors and balloon borne sensors. Since then the detection techniques varied considerably and the study of SCR turned into essential part of solar and solar-terrestrial physics.




Solar Particle Radiation Storms Forecasting and Analysis


Book Description

Solar energetic particles (SEPs) emitted from the Sun are a major space weather hazard motivating the development of predictive capabilities. This book presents the results and findings of the HESPERIA (High Energy Solar Particle Events forecasting and Analysis) project of the EU HORIZON 2020 programme. It discusses the forecasting operational tools developed within the project, and presents progress to SEP research contributed by HESPERIA both from the observational as well as the SEP modelling perspective. Using multi-frequency observational data and simulations HESPERIA investigated the chain of processes from particle acceleration in the corona, particle transport in the magnetically complex corona and interplanetary space, to the detection near 1 AU. The book also elaborates on the unique software that has been constructed for inverting observations of relativistic SEPs to physical parameters that can be compared with space-borne measurements at lower energies. Introductory and pedagogical material included in the book make it accessible to students at graduate level and will be useful as background material for Space Physics and Space Weather courses with emphasis on Solar Energetic Particle Event Forecasting and Analysis. This work was published by Saint Philip Street Press pursuant to a Creative Commons license permitting commercial use. All rights not granted by the work's license are retained by the author or authors.




Physics of the Inner Heliosphere II


Book Description

Physics of the Inner Heliosphere gives for the first time a comprehensive and complete summary of our knowledge of the inner solar system. Using data collected over more than 11 years by the HELIOS twin solar probes, one of the most successful ventures in unmanned space exploration, the authors have compiled six extensive reviews of the physical processes of the inner heliosphere and their relation to the solar atmosphere. Researchers and advanced students in space and plasma physics, astronomy, and solar physics will be surprised to see just how closely the heliosphere is tied to, and how sensitively it depends on, the sun. Volume 2 deals with particles, waves, and turbulence, with chapters on: - magnetic clouds - interplanetary clouds - the solar wind plasma and MHD turbulence - waves and instabilities - energetic particles in the inner solar system




Cosmic Rays in Interplanetary Magnetic Fields


Book Description

Fast particles of natural or1g1n (cosmic rays) have been used for a long time as an important source of astrophysical and geophysical information. A study of cosmic ray spectra, time variations, abundances, gradients, and anisotropy provides a wealth of data on physical conditions in the regions of cosmic ray generation as well as in the media through which cosmic rays propagate. Astrophysical aspects of cosmic ray physics have been considered in a number of monograpqs. The most detailed seems to be "The Origin of Cosmic Rays" by V. L. Ginzburg and S. 1. Syrovatskij (1964) which is, however, concerned mainly with galactic cosmic rays. The physics of the circumsolar space is discussed in this book only rather briefly. Several other monographs have been devoted mostly to the physics of the interplanetary medium and cosmic rays in interplanetary space. These include the books by Dorman (1963, 1975a, b), Parker (1963), Dorman and Miroshnichenko (1968). The present monograph differs from the above mentioned books in two main aspects: (i) It presents a unified theoretical approach to analys{ng the properties of fast particles in interplanetary space, based upon consideration of cosmic rays as a highly energetic component of the interplane~ary plasma, which makes use of the plasma physics methods to describe the behaviour of cosmic rays.




Cosmic Winds and the Heliosphere


Book Description

Contributors examine the physics of wind origin and physical phenomena in winds, including heliospheric shocks, magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, and kinetic phenomena--and their interactions with surrounding media. Contributions range from studies of the interstellar cloud surrounding the solar system to solar wind interaction with comets.




Comic Rays in Interplanetary Magnetics Fields


Book Description

Fast particles of natural or1g1n (cosmic rays) have been used for a long time as an important source of astrophysical and geophysical information. A study of cosmic ray spectra, time variations, abundances, gradients, and anisotropy provides a wealth of data on physical conditions in the regions of cosmic ray generation as well as in the media through which cosmic rays propagate. Astrophysical aspects of cosmic ray physics have been considered in a number of monograpqs. The most detailed seems to be "The Origin of Cosmic Rays" by V. L. Ginzburg and S. 1. Syrovatskij (1964) which is, however, concerned mainly with galactic cosmic rays. The physics of the circumsolar space is discussed in this book only rather briefly. Several other monographs have been devoted mostly to the physics of the interplanetary medium and cosmic rays in interplanetary space. These include the books by Dorman (1963, 1975a, b), Parker (1963), Dorman and Miroshnichenko (1968). The present monograph differs from the above mentioned books in two main aspects: (i) It presents a unified theoretical approach to analys{ng the properties of fast particles in interplanetary space, based upon consideration of cosmic rays as a highly energetic component of the interplane~ary plasma, which makes use of the plasma physics methods to describe the behaviour of cosmic rays.




Solar and Space Physics


Book Description

In 2010, NASA and the National Science Foundation asked the National Research Council to assemble a committee of experts to develop an integrated national strategy that would guide agency investments in solar and space physics for the years 2013-2022. That strategy, the result of nearly 2 years of effort by the survey committee, which worked with more than 100 scientists and engineers on eight supporting study panels, is presented in the 2013 publication, Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society. This booklet, designed to be accessible to a broader audience of policymakers and the interested public, summarizes the content of that report.




Cosmic Magnetism,


Book Description

The study of extraterrestrial magnetic fields is a relatively new one, confirmation of the existance of the first such field (that of our Sun) having come a s late as 1908. In the past 30 years a great ammount of knowledge has been accumulated on Cosmic Magnetism, which has turned out to be a truly fascinating topic for study. Percy Seymour's book is the first to deal with the topic in a non-mathematical way, and he offers a fine introduction to his subject. The first three chapters consolidate our knowledge on magnetism in general and the magnetic field of the Earth, as well as discussing the reasons for studying astronomy and cosmic magnetism in particular. The remainder of the book is devoted to the main areas of cosmic magnetism - solar, plantetary and interplanetary fields, fields in stars and pulsars, fields of the milky way and fields in other galaxies. Cosmic Magnetism in an ideal book for sixth-formers and undergraduates studying physics or astronomy and will also appeal to amateur astronomers. as previous work on this topic has been 'hidden' in specialised academic journals.