The Interactions of Energetic Particles with the Solar Wind - A Theoretical Study

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This project will provide theoretical studies of the interactions of energetic particles with the solar wind. The studies will be broad-based and include interstellar and cometary pickup ions, galactic cosmic rays, shock-accelerated particles including the cosmic ray anomalous component, and solar slare particles. A unifying theme is the influence of genergetic particles on the structure and location of the solar wind termination shock. The investigations will emphasize analytical methods, the microprocesses governing the interactions including wave excitation by the energetic particles, and comparisons between the theoretical results and spacecraft oberservations. The goal of the study is a better understanding of the structure of the heliosphere and its enegetic particles. Specific topics of research are, for example: 1) A prediction of the momentum- and mass-loading of the solar wind by interstellar H+ and He+. 2) A prediction of the shift in the location of the termination shock due to interstellar pickup ions and cosmic rays. 3) Development of an analytical model for the solar-cycle variation of cosmic rays at high energies. 4) Acceleration of lower-energy "seed" particles at shocks.