The influence of intermediate‐scale variations in the heliospheric magnetic field on the transport of galactic cosmic rays

Abstract

Variations in the heliospheric magnetic field occur on most scales including those lying intermediate between the gyro‐radii of galactic cosmic rays and heliocentric radial distance. It is demonstrated that a correlation exists between these intermediate‐scale variations in the magnetic field and the variations in the cosmic ray distribution function that result from the field variations. This correlation will affect the average transport of galactic cosmic rays by significantly altering the patterns of gradient and curvature drifts in the heliosphere. During the current solar cycle, the altered drift patterns can lead to larger radial gradients of the galactic cosmic rays and significantly smaller latitude gradients than is expected only from drifts in the mean magnetic field.