Galactic Cosmic Ray Density Variations in Magnetic Clouds

Abstract

We investigate the characteristics of Galactic cosmic rays in events associated with magnetic clouds that reach Earth. A mathematical model, capable of describing the distribution of the cosmic-ray density in a magnetic cloud is considered. We show that in most cases the behavior of the cosmic-ray density within magnetic clouds at 1 AU can be described accurately by a parabolic function of the distance to the center of the magnetic cloud measured in gyroradii. As expected, the majority of magnetic clouds modulate cosmic rays, resulting in a reduction of their density. However, there is a group of events (about one fifth of the total sample) in which the density of cosmic rays in a magnetic cloud increases. Furthermore, the extremum (a minimum or a maximum) of the cosmic-ray density is found closer to the cloud center and not at its edges. We consider a number of the factors contributing to the model and estimate the effect of each factor.