On the equation of transport for cosmic-ray particles in the interplanetary region

Abstract

In this paper we provide two new alternative derivations of the equation of transport for cosmic-ray particles in the interplanetary region. Both derivations are carried out by using particle positionr and timet in a frame of reference fixed in the solar system, and the particle momentump′ is specified relative to a local frame of reference moving with the solar wind. The first derivation is carried out by writing down a continuity equation for the cosmic rays, taking into account particle streaming and energy changes, and subsequently deriving the streaming and energy change terms in this equation. The momentum change term in the continuity equation, previously considered to be due to the adiabatic deceleration of particles in the expanding magnetic fields carried by the solar wind, appears in the present analysis as a dynamic effect in which the Lorentz force on the particle does not appear explicitly. An alternative derivation based on the ensemble averaged Liouville equation for charged particles in the stochastic interplanetary magnetic field using (r, p′,t) as independent coordinates is also given. The latter derivation confirms the momentum change interpretation of the first derivation. We also provide a new derivation of the adiabatic rate as a combination of inverse-Fermi and betatron deceleration processes.