Cosmic-Ray Modulation and Solar Particle Studies Using Neutron Monitors

这一努力将是UNH对地球附近宇宙射线调制研究的继续。全球中子监测网络依赖于达勒姆和Mt。华盛顿站的标准数据产品。PI计划使用来自Mt.华盛顿、达勒姆和其他地基中子监测器，以及IMP和ACE等航天器。山脉华盛顿中子监测仪从1954年开始连续运行至今。靠近地球的IMP航天器提供了1972年至今70 MeV粒子以及选定的质子和氦能量的数据。来自米拉格罗探测器的数据涵盖了5 GeV的能量范围，并提供了一些宇宙射线调制效应的截止能量估计和与太阳耀斑相关的增加。这些组合的扩展数据库包括11年和22年的变化，以及过去几十年发生的太阳耀斑事件。 该建议旨在更好地了解日光层中太阳和银河宇宙射线加速和传输过程之间的联系。通过整合来自各种宇宙射线探测器（包括中子监测器、航天器仪器和地面μ子探测器）的数据，PI将研究与日光层冲击加速太阳宇宙射线相关的过程。来自单一仪器的数据永远无法充分描述这些过程，因此研究来自所有可用来源的数据对于我们理解这些机制至关重要。在未来两年，PI计划升级其数据处理和分析软件，以更广泛地分发用户友好的数据集和结果。新罕布什尔州的配对站为社区提供了罕见的各向异性独立数据，而Milagro和Climax的数据允许类似的比较，可以揭示更高能量的事件。两个本科生和一个博士学生已经使用这些数据进行研究，PI计划在拟议的研究中利用其他本科生。作为Milagro实验的合作者，UNH团队将完全获得数据和仪器专业知识。

This effort would be a continuation of UNH studies of cosmic-ray modulation near the Earth. The global network of neutron monitors relies on both the Durham and Mt. Washington stations for standard data products. The PI plans on using data from Mt. Washington, Durham, and other ground-based neutron monitors, as well as spacecraft such as IMP and ACE. The Mt. Washington neutron monitor has operated continuously from 1954 to the present. The IMP spacecraft near the Earth provides data from 1972 to the present for 70 MeV particles, and for selected proton and helium energies. Data from the Milagro detector cover the energy range of 5 GeV, as well as provide estimates of the cutoff energies for some cosmic-ray modulation effects and increases associated with solar flares. These combined extended databases include 11-year and 22-year variations, as well as solar-flare events that occurred over the last several decades. This proposal aims at a better understanding of the linkages between processes of acceleration and transport of both solar and galactic cosmic rays in the heliosphere. By integrating data from a variety of cosmic-ray detectors, including neutron monitors, spacecraft instruments, and ground-level muon detectors, the PI will investigate the processes associated with the acceleration of solar cosmic rays by shocks in the heliosphere. Data from a single instrument can never adequately describe such processes, so the study of data from all available sources is critical for our understanding of these mechanisms. During the next two years, the PI plans to upgrade his software for data processing and analysis to more widely distribute user-friendly data sets and results. The paired stations in New Hampshire provide rare anisotropy-independent data for the community, while data from Milagro and Climax allow similar comparisons that can shed light on higher energy events. Two undergraduates and one Ph.D. student already use these data for research, and the PI plans to utilize other undergraduates in the proposed study. Being collaborators in the Milagro experiment, the UNH team will have full access to the data and instrument expertise.