SOLAR PARTICLE OBSERVATIONS INSIDE THE MAGNETOSPHERE DURING THE 7 JULY 1966 EVENT.

Abstract

Observations of protons emitted by the 7 July 1966 solar flare at N34, W47 with the low-altitude--high-latitude University of Iowa satellite Injun IV show the following. (a) High energy (Ep about 27 MeV) protons arrive promptly over the earth's polar caps and decay in a manner consistent with diffusive propagation. (b) The counting rate due to protons in the interval 0.52 = or < Ep = or < 4 MeV and moving normal to the magnetic vector shows a double plateau as the satellite moves over the polar caps. (c) The position of the 'knee' for protons in the above energy interval varies from L about 7.5 to L about 6.3 at magnetic local times of about 4.5 hours and about 11.5 hours, respectively. (d) After the sudden commencement the latitude gap between trapped protons and solar protons disappears, suggesting that some solar protons may become trapped in the earth's radiation belts. (e) Simultaneous observations with similar detectors inside the magnetosphere (Injun IV) and outside the magnetosphere (Explorer 33) show that low energy (about 0.5 MeV) protons have essentially immediate acess from the interplanetary space to the polar caps of the earth. Finally, the theoretical implications of these results are discussed. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0659325

Entities

People

  • James A. van Allen
  • S. M. Krimigis
  • T. P. Armstrong

Organizations

  • University of Iowa

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Detectors
  • Energy
  • Grids
  • High Energy
  • High Latitudes
  • Interplanetary Space
  • Intervals
  • Latitude
  • Low Altitude
  • Magnetosphere
  • Observation
  • Polar Cap
  • Radiation
  • Solar Flares

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space