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12 th Annual International Astrophysics Conference Myrtle Beach, SC 14-19 April 2013

Voyager Observations of Energetic Particles in the Distant Heliosheath A. C. Cummings and E. C. Stone, Caltech N . Lal and B. Heikkila , Goddard Space Flight Center. 12 th Annual International Astrophysics Conference Myrtle Beach, SC 14-19 April 2013. X. X . ?.

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12 th Annual International Astrophysics Conference Myrtle Beach, SC 14-19 April 2013

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  1. Voyager Observations of Energetic Particles in the Distant HeliosheathA. C. Cummings and E. C. Stone, CaltechN. Laland B. Heikkila, Goddard Space Flight Center 12th Annual International Astrophysics Conference Myrtle Beach, SC 14-19 April 2013

  2. X X ? (McComas et al., Science, 2012) X V1 123.9 AU, 34.6N V2 101.4 AU, 30.3S X X X X

  3. Three “episodes” In each case, GCRs increased while TSPs and ACR decreased. So, galactic particles increased; heliospheric particles decreased. GCRs >70 MeV/nuc GCR electrons ~5-100 MeV ACRs -> GCRs ~7-60 MeV H TSPs -> background ~0.5-30 MeV H CRS team

  4. Voyager Cosmic Ray Telescopes LET D boresight is approximately perpendicular to magnetic field direction; HET 1 B Bmag HET 2 B TET

  5. Strong anisotropies in H with 3.3-7.8 MeV following last drop at day 238 until ~day 264 (2012.72).Intensity ~level and spectral index near zero after day 264 (2012.72).Day 264 is ~0.27 AU after boundary at day 238. Gyroradius of 5 MeV H in 0.4 nT field is 0.0054 AU(so anisotropies strong for at least 50 gyroradii). Bmag 264 Day 238, Aug. 25

  6. For H just after day 238, LET B j ~ LET C j and both lower than LET D, which is consistent with LECP observations at similar energy. Pattern different for He and O, with B much higher than A & C. LET D O intensity high until ~day 342. DOY 342.0 Choice to construct GCR H, He energy spectra is from 2012/342 forward to minimize ACR contributions.

  7. V1 H spectra, 13-day intervalsIntensities shown separately in various telescopes, which have different view directions.After day 264, appear to be observing GCR H spectrum down to ~2-3 MeV. First time this part of GCR spectrum below ~100 MeV has been revealed.

  8. Pitch angle distributions of H with 3-7.8 MeV in 13-d intervals based on estimated directions of magnetic field (upper right panel). Note transition to near isotropic distribution of GCRs at the end.More analysis of these anistropies is in the works using different time averages, including down to 1-day averages, and for different elements.

  9. V1 H, He, C, and O spectra for 2012/342-2013/60. Also shown is H spectrum for 2012/274-2012/121. Believe we are observing GCRs down to ~3 MeV/nuc for H and He;C & O down to ~10 MeV/nuc.GCR H, He spectra peak at ~20-40 MeV/nuc and are in good agreement at higher energies with leaky box model from Webber & Higbie 2009-- as is GCR C.GCR C/O ratio ~1. Moskalenko et al. 2002 – DC Webber & Higbie 2009 -- LB Ip & Axford 1985 – model a Fisk & Gloeckler 2012 -- pump

  10. Preliminary V1 spectra for 2012/342-2013/60 for 8 elements (red). Also shown are spectra from a reference period (blue, 2011/1-365),which is dominated by ACRs below ~50 MeV/nuc.With more accumulation time spectra will be better defined and more spectra will become available.

  11. H, He, e spectra from Ip & Axford, 1985 with and without energy losses taken into account. Factor of 400 different for protons at 1 MeV and factor 50 different at 10 MeV. It is possible that the energy spectrum we are observing is still a modulated one – either from residual solar modulation or perhaps there is a gradient in the interstellar medium (Scherer et al. 2011, Herbst et al. 2012). Ip & Axford, 1985

  12. V1 H intensities vs time. No measurable gradients yet, but will be something to monitor in the coming years.

  13. H &He spectra for 2012/342-2013/60. H/He ratio ~12.6 from ~3-350 MeV/nuc -> observing GCR H and He. Ratio 12.6 is recommended abundance in solar photosphere (Lodders, 2003)

  14. V1 >70 MeV rate showing some small (few per cent) anisotropy. Low intensities are when S/C was rolled 70 degrees off nominal.

  15. A small step up in intensity observed in several GCR rates near day 80 of 2013 for a couple of weeks. Variations still occurring -> probably not yet in interstellar space.

  16. Ion Summary • V1 entered new region on day 238 of 2012 – GCRs have good access to spacecraft; heliospheric particles abruptly decline. • Spectral evolution from different LET telescopes indicates that heliospheric particles persist a significant distance beyond the region’s boundary, with those having 90 degree pitch angle persisting the longest. • Can distinguish co-existing ACR and GCR populations based on isotropy. • By 50 gyroradii beyond the boundary (if boundary stationary) H intensities are essentially isotropic, consistent with GCRs. • Heliospheric He and O persisting longer at 90 degree pitch angle, likely because pitch angle scattering is less efficient at higher rigidities. • Observing GCR H and He spectra down to ~3 MeV/nuc and GCR C and O down to ~10 MeV/nuc. • GCR C/O ~1; GCR H/He ~12.6 • GCRs recently showing some small intensity changes and anisotropies • Future: • Will there be gradients? • Other structures? • More elemental and some isotopic GCR spectra for Z’s up through Fe

  17. GCR Electrons

  18. Voyager Cosmic Ray Telescopes HET 1 B HET 2 B TET The Electron Telescope

  19. GCR Electrons • Two ways of getting electron measurements from CRS • HET BSe mode: • No dead material • Total energy is measured (~2.5-10 MeV), so straight forward in principle • Plan to do GEANT4 simulation to determine efficiency as a function of energy • Will not discuss today • The Electron Telescope (TET) (~5-100 MeV) • Stack of silicon detectors with interleaved W absorbers • Energy measured in first two detectors only • Range in stack determined • Was calibrated prior to launch with electron beams from 6 – 72 MeV (Space Radiation Internal Report 79, J Zmuidzinas and N. Gehrels, and other internal reports) • Recently, simulated response functions using GEANT4 have also been done • Necessary to correct for GCR proton background

  20. TET telescope diagram

  21. Counting rate from response function and incident energy spectrum • Ri = ∫ • Response functions measured at accelerator and simulated using GEANT4 • Parameterize energy spectrum with 3 parameters to make a smooth curve: dJ/dE = A*(E^g)*exp(-E/Eo)) • Do least-squares fit to observed counting rates

  22. Response functions from accelerator calibration Energy bins will overlap D1…D3 D1…D4 D1…D5 D1…D6

  23. Comparison of response functions from accelerator calibration (solid lines) with GEANT4 simulation (dotted lines).Not as differentas they may lookbecause it’s a linear scale and it’s the integral that’s important.GEANT4 simulations still being refined.

  24. Background possibilities from high energy protons

  25. Estimate of background for D1D5 • GCR electrons emerged from background from 2005 forward • Background ~8% at present for D1D5 • Background ranges from 2% to 34% from D1D3 to D1D7 • Other ways to estimate background are being explored

  26. Background corrected rates.Intensities reasonably steady with time after the day 238 jump.

  27. Emin, Emax, and Eplot selection. Response functions convolved with energy spectrum. Emin and Emax chosen by moving horizontal line down from peak and stopping when 68% of distribution is between Emin and Emax. Eplot = sqrt(Emin*Emax).

  28. V1 electron spectrum for 2012/342-2013/60 using: response functions from calibration (open) and response functions from GEANT4 simulation (solid)

  29. GCR Electron Summary • New analysis of TET electron data • Parameterize energy spectrum and calculate rates from response functions • Use response functions (four) that were determined at accelerator calibration and response functions (five) from GEANT4 simulation • Least-squares fit to determine parameters of energy spectrum • Energy bins not contiguous (previously they were) • Energy ranges depend somewhat on which response functions are used and also vary slightly with energy spectrum but are approximately (GEANT4 simulation in MeV): 5-13, 9-24, 15-43, 21-70, and 20-100. • Correct for background based on 225-646 MeV proton rate using a linear relationship for periods when background is thought to account for all of the rate • Other methods for correcting for background are being explored • Deduced energy spectrum is between LISM estimates of Langner et al. 2001 and Webber and Higbie 2008 • GCR electron intensity steady since the 2012/238 abrupt increase

  30. The End

  31. LIS GCR H, He, C, e spectra from Ip & Axford, 1985 Energy losses in interstellar medium cause flattening at low energies Ip & Axford, 1985

  32. Intensity ratio LET D/C directions divided by beta vs rigidityHigher rigidity particles have more beamed pitch-angle distribution

  33. V1 O spectra, 13-day intervals.Intensities shown separately in various telescopes, which have different view directions. LET D O intensity declines throughout but may still have some ACR contribution at lowest energies.

  34. V1 H spectra, 3-day intervals.

  35. Comparison of response functions from accelerator calibration (solid lines) with GEANT4 simulation (dotted lines)

  36. H &He spectra for 2012/342-2013/60. H/He ratio ~12.6 from ~3-350 MeV/nuc -> observing GCR H and He. Ratio 12.6 is recommended abundance in solar photosphere (Lodders, 2003)

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