PERPENDICULAR DIFFUSION OF COSMIC RAYS FOR A GOLDREICH-SRIDHAR SPECTRUM

Abstract

Perpendicular diffusion coefficients and mean free paths of cosmic particles are computed for an anisotropic Alfvenic turbulence spectrum corresponding to the Goldreich-Sridhar model by employing an enhanced nonlinear guiding center theory. The calculations are important for understanding cosmic ray propagation in the Galaxy and in the solar system. In addition, the knowledge of diffusion coefficients is also useful for modeling charged particles which experience diffusive shock acceleration in supernova remnants and at interplanetary shock waves. To replace the parallel diffusion coefficient in our equation for the perpendicular diffusion coefficient, we employ different models such as quasilinear results and phenomenological models. The results are compared with those derived earlier. We demonstrate that the choice of the turbulence model as well as the choice of the model for the parallel diffusion coefficient has a strong influence on the perpendicular diffusion coefficient.