The Sudden Commencement Solar Proton Flux Enhancement of 31 October 1972.
Abstract
The sudden commencement (sc) solar proton enhancement of 31 October 1972 is examined in detail. The flux of 5-21 MeV protons observed by ATS-1 increased by a factor of 25 as a result of the sudden commencement. Drift echoes (indicating trapped particles) were seen clearly following the sc with a period of the order of 70 seconds as expected for protons with energies just above 5 MeV. Decay times ranging from 17 to 56 minutes were seen during the decay. The decay time changed as the magnetosphere reacted to varying solar wind conditions which were indicated by ground-based magnetometer records. It is also shown that plasma intrusions into the outer magnetosphere from the solar wind, as discussed by Lemaire and colleagues, can serve as strong scattering centers, providing access for and greatly reducing the otherwise expected trapping lifetimes of sc-enhance solar protons. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA074546
Entities
People
- Bernard Blake
- George A. Paulikas
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation