Global electric circuit modulation of winter cyclone vorticity in the northern high latitudes

Small changes in extended winter (November–March) 500 hPa vorticity area index (VAI) values for the 60–80°N latitude band are shown to be positively correlated with changes in a proxy for the high latitude ionosphere-to-surface current density _Jz$J_z$.     

On the origin of cosmic rays in the spiral galaxy NGC 3310

The problem of cosmic ray production in the spiral galaxy NGC 3310 is addressed by analysing and comparing optical and radio continuum data. Tentative results indicate that on global scales relativistic electrons may be produced in the shock front associated with teh density wave while on local scales extreme population I objects may be producing them. It is inferred that the same conclusions apply to all cosmic rays produced in the disk.     

1998年9月24日地磁暴前宇宙线各向异性特性分析

分析了日本Nagoya 宇宙线闪烁体望远镜30°, 49°, 64° 倾角的东、西、南、北方向探测数据的变化特点, 运用小波分析方法定性地探讨了磁暴前后宇宙线南北、东西各向异性的变化特征. 研究发现, 当发 生大地磁暴时, 地面宇宙线强度的各向异性特征将发生非常大的变化, 这种变化一般在磁暴发生前10~20 h就开始出现. 当描述这种各向异性特征的各向异性指数的小波系数变化达到一定阈值时, 就可能有大地磁暴发生.      

The Pioneer anomaly and a rotating Gödel universe

Based upon a simple cosmological model with no expansion, we find that the rotational terms appearing in the Gödel universe are too small to explain the Pioneer anomaly. Following a brief summary of the anomaly, cosmological effects on the dynamics of local systems are addressed – including a derivation of the equations of motion for an accelerated Pioneer-type observer in a rotating universe. The rotation or vorticity present in such a cosmological model is then subjected to astrophysical limits set by observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation. Although it contributes, universal rotation is not the cause of the Pioneer effect. In view of the related fly-by anomalies, frame-dragging is also discussed. The virial theorem is used to demonstrate the non-conservation of energy during transfers from bound to hyperbolic trajectories.     

Research by the Tasmanian cosmic ray group during the International Geophysical Year

Systematic recording of the cosmic radiation commenced in Hobart in 1946 and at Mawson in Antarctica in 1955, making these two of the longest running cosmic ray observatories in the world. For the IGY, observations were also made at a sub-Antarctic island and near the equator, and an airborne survey of the nucleonic component was made from Geomagnetic Latitude −60°, south of Australia, to Japan and back. At Hobart there were neutron monitors, vertical and inclined muon telescopes, an ionization chamber, and two muon telescopes at ∼40 m of water equivalent underground. The research based on these and other observations determined the energy dependence of the Forbush and 11-year variations and concentrated, in particular, on understanding the anisotropic nature of galactic cosmic rays up to 150 GeV; the anisotropies in the onset phase of Forbush decreases; and the anisotropies in solar cosmic ray events. An investigation was initiated to calculate the trajectories and cutoff rigidities of cosmic rays in a high order simulation of the geomagnetic field. This was completed in 1959–60.     

第22与23周磁静日北京台银河宇宙线周日变化与半日变化特征

利用快速傅里叶变换及其计算功率谱的方法研究了第22和23周磁静日北京宇宙线台站记录的银河宇宙线强度的周日变化与半日变化，计算结果表明，在两个太阳活动周交替时，银河宇宙线的周日变化与半日变化特征消失，在太阳活动低年逐渐向高年过度时，首先出现的是周日变化。半日变化特征出现要滞后于周日变化，22周太阳活动高年看不出周日变化，而23周太阳活动的高年周日变化非常显著，22周太阳活动的下降期。只有周日变化而无半日变化。这是分析北京宇宙线台近2个太阳活动周数据得到的新结果。     

Thermal neutrons’ response to the GLEs

Thermal neutrons’ flux near the Earth’s crust is very sensitive regarding different processes and phenomena both in the near-Earth space and in the Earth’s crust by reason of the dual nature of the thermal neutron flux. Its first source is associated with high-energy particles of cosmic rays penetrating into the Earth’s atmosphere and interacting with its elements. The second source originates from the radioactive gases contained in the Earth’s crust. So the contributions of these two sources are specified by the Earth’s crust conditions and its movements, on one hand and variations of high-energy particles flux near the Earth.     

Where does the heliospheric modulation of galactic cosmic rays start?

The long outstanding question of where the heliospheric (solar) modulation of galactic cosmic rays actually begins, in terms of spatial position, as well as at what high kinetic energy, can now be answered. Both answers are possible by using the results of an advanced numerical model, together with appropriate observations. Voyager 1 has been exploring the outskirts of the heliosphere and is presently entering what can be called the very local interstellar medium. It has been generally expected, and accepted, that once the heliopause is crossed, the local interstellar spectrum (LIS) should be measured in situ by the Voyager spacecraft. However, we show that this may not be the case and that modulation effects on galactic cosmic rays can persist well beyond the heliopause. For example, proton observations at 100 MeV close to the heliopause can be lower by ∼$\sim$25% to 40% than the LIS, depending on solar modulation conditions. It is also illustrated quantitatively that significant solar modulation diminishes above ∼$\sim$50 GeV at Earth. It is found that cosmic ray observations above this energy contain less that 5%$5\%$ solar modulation effects and should therefore reflect the LIS for galactic cosmic rays. Input spectra, in other words the very LIS, for solar modulation models are now constrained by in situ observations and can therefore not any longer be treated arbitrarily. It is also possible for the first time to determine the lower limit of the very LIS from a few MeV/nuc to very high energies.     

Neutron monitor asymptotic directions of viewing during the event of 13 December 2006

During the recent ground level enhancement of 13 December 2006, also known as GLE70, solar cosmic ray particles of energy bigger that ∼500 MeV/nucleon propagated inside the Earth’s magnetosphere and finally accessed low-altitude satellites and ground level neutron monitors. The magnitude and the characteristics of this event registered at different neutron monitor stations of the worldwide network can be interpreted adequately on the basis of an estimation of the solar particle trajectories in the near Earth interplanetary space. In this work, an extended representation of the Earth’s magnetic field was realized applying the Tsyganenko 1989 model. Using a numerical back-tracing technique the solar proton trajectories inside the magnetospheric field of the Earth were calculated for a variety of particles, initializing their travel at different locations, covering a wide range of energies. In this way, the asymptotic directions of viewing were calculated for a significant number of neutron monitor stations, providing crucial information on the Earth’s “magnetospheric optics” for primary solar cosmic rays, on the top of the atmosphere, during the big solar event of December 2006. The neutron monitor network has been treated, therefore, as a multidimensional tool that gives insights into the arrival directions of solar cosmic ray particles as well as their spatial and energy distributions during extreme solar events.