[1] A coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with an X17 solar flare reached Earth on October 29, 2003, causing an $11% decrease in the intensity of high-energy Galactic cosmic rays recorded by muon detectors. The CME also produced a strong enhancement of the cosmic ray directional anisotropy. Based upon a simple inclined cylinder model, we use the anisotropy data to derive for the first time the three-dimensional geometry of the cosmic ray depleted region formed behind the shock in this event.We also compare the geometry derived from cosmic rays with that derived from in situ interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) observations using a Magnetic Flux Rope model.
A major cosmic ray ground‐level enhancement, the largest in 33 years, occurred on 29 September 1989 during which intensity enhancements at Australian observatories ranged up to a maximum of 344% at Mt. Wellington. The Darwin neutron monitor (cutoff rigidity 14.1 GV) recorded an ∼13% increase in the five‐minute counting rate indicating that solar particles up to at least 15 GeV must have been present. Surface muon detectors at Hobart and Mawson recorded increased fluxes, but the event was not recorded by underground muon detectors at either station. Preliminary analysis of the solar particle flux during the initial phase of the event shows a hard spectrum approximated equally well by an exponential spectra with a Po of 2.0 GV or by a modified power law spectra of exponent ∼−2.9. Particles arriving at the detectors from non‐vertical directions make a significant contribution to the total increase recorded at mid and low latitude stations.
[1] We have recently augmented the electronics for our neutron monitor (NM) latitude survey so as to record the elapsed time (dT) between detected neutrons in each proportional tube, in order to examine time correlations in the data as a function of cutoff rigidity and primary spectrum. We quantify the dependence of counting rate on dead time, with particular focus on the longer dead times that were once employed in FSU/Russian stations. Our observations show that monitor dead time has little influence on the observed depth of Forbush decreases, indicating that the cosmic ray spectral shape is little changed in the decrease. However, the use of a different dead time significantly alters the response of the monitor as a function of cutoff rigidity. In spite of the general success of our calculation in reproducing the data, unexplained discrepancies are still present.
DECLARATIONSI certify that this thesis does not incorporate without acknowledgment any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any university; and to the best of my knowledge and belief it does not contain any material previously published or written by another person where due reference is not made in the text. Damian Lindsay Hallll This thesis may be made available for loan and limited copying in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. Damian Lindsay Hall Ill ABSTRACTThe distribution of galactic cosmic ray particles in the heliosphere is influenced (modulated) by the Sun's interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and the solar wind. The particles diffuse inward, convect outward and have drifts in the motion of their gyro-centres. They are also scattered from their gyro-orbits by irregularities in the IMF. These processes are the components of solar modulation and produce streaming (anisotropies) of particles in the heliosphere. The anisotropies can be investigated at Earth by examining the count rates of cosmic ray detectors. The anisotropic streams appear as diurnal and semi-diurnal variations in the count rates of cosmic ray recorders in solar and sidereal time. Theoretical models of solar modulation predict effects which are dependent on the polarity of the Sun's magnetic dipole (A >0 or A <0). The solar diurnal and North-South anisotropy can be used to test these predictions.The yearly averaged solar and sidereal diurnal variations in data recorded by seven neutron monitors and ten muon telescopes for the period 1957 to 1990 have been deduced by Fourier analysis methods. The rigidities of the galactic cosmic rays to which these instruments respond encompass the range 10 to 1400 Giga volts (GV). The rigidity spectrum of the solar diurnal anisotropy has been inferred to have a mean spectral index extremely close to zero and an idealised upper limiting rigidity of 100± 25 GV. This is in good agreement with previous determinations. It is shown that this upper limit has a temporal variation between 50 GV and 180 GV and is correlated with the magnitude of the IMF. The rigidity spectrum is likely to be dependent on the polarity of the Sun's magnetic dipole, the spectral index being determined as positive in the A >0 magnetic polarity state and negative in the A <0 polarity state. It is also shown that the amplitude of the anisotropy varies with an 11-year variation and the time of maximum varies with 22-year variation. Both of these variations are shown to be independent of any change in the rigidity spectrum.The solar diurnal anisotropy is also used as a tool to calculate the modulation parameters ?Lip, (the product of the parallel mean-free path and radial density gradient) and Gtzl (an indicator of the symmetric latitudinal density gradient). X G r is found to have a 22-year II variation at all rigidities studied and furthermore to only have rigidity dependence when the heliosphere is in the A >0 magnetic polarity state. It is unlikely that X IIG r has any rigidity dependence in the A <0 polarity s...
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