Galactic Cosmic Ray Transport Research Articles

Study of the 27 Day Variations in GCR Fluxes during 2007–2008 Based on PAMELA and ARINA Observations

Abstract Using measurements from the PAMELA and ARINA spectrometers on board the Resurs-DK1 satellite, we have examined the 27 day intensity variations in galactic cosmic ray (GCR) proton fluxes in 2007–2008. The PAMELA and ARINA data allow for the first time a study of time profiles and the rigidity dependence of the 27 day variations observed directly in space in a wide rigidity range from ∼300 MV to several gigavolts. We find that the rigidity dependence of the amplitude of the 27 day GCR variations cannot be described by the same power law at both low and high energies. A flat interval occurs at rigidity GV with a power-law index γ = −0.13 ± 0.44 for PAMELA, whereas for R ≥ 1 GV, the power-law dependence is evident with index γ = −0.51 ± 0.11. We describe the rigidity dependence of the 27 day GCR variations for PAMELA and ARINA data in the framework of the modulation potential concept using the force-field approximation for GCR transport. For a physical interpretation, we have considered the relationship between the 27 day GCR variations and solar wind plasma and other heliospheric parameters. Moreover, we have discussed possible implications of MHD modeling of the solar wind plasma together with a stochastic GCR transport model concerning the effects of corotating interaction regions.

A Numerical Study of the Effects of Corotating Interaction Regions on Cosmic-Ray Transport

Abstract The intensity of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) is modulated by solar activity on various timescales. In this study, we performed comprehensive numerical modeling of the solar rotational recurrent variation in GCRs caused by a corotation interaction region (CIR). A recently developed magnetohydrodynamic numerical model is adapted to simulate the background solar wind plasma with a CIR structure present in the inner heliosphere. As for the outer heliospheric plasma background, from 27 to 80 au, the Parker interplanetary magnetic field model is utilized. The output of these plasma and magnetic field models is incorporated into a comprehensive Parker-type transport model for GCRs. The local interstellar spectrum for galactic protons is transported to 80 au, specifying the outer boundary condition. The obtained solutions of this hybrid model, for studying the CIR effect, are as follows: (1) the onset of the decrease in the GCR intensity inside the CIR coincides with the increase of the solar wind speed with the intensity depression accompanied by a magnetic field and plasma density enhancement. Additionally, the CIR effect weakens with increasing heliocentric radial distance. (2) This decrease in GCR intensity also appears at different heliolatitudes and varies with changing latitude; the amplitude of the GCR depression exhibits a maximum in the low-latitude region. (3) The CIR affects GCR transport at different energy levels as well. Careful analysis has revealed a specific energy dependence of the amplitude of the recurrent GCR variation in the range of 30–2000 MeV.

Signatures of Intermittency and Fine-scale Turbulence in the Very Local Interstellar Medium

Abstract This study presents the first Voyager 1 (V1) observation of magnetic turbulence intermittency and fine-scale structures associated with the propagation of a shock wave in the outer heliosheath. The intermittent event starts on DOY 178 in 2014 upstream of the shock wave that overtook V1 on DOY 237 at 140 au from the Sun. The distribution of magnetic field increments follows the q-Gaussian distribution with the index q ≈ 1.57 for the maximum variance component. Evidence is provided of fine-scale structures well below the Coulomb collisional scale. They undergo a turbulent cascade at scales less than 10−3 au. Observed magnetohydrodynamic fluctuations show signatures of irregular filamentary structures, sawtooth-like waveforms of mixed compressible/transverse nature, which evolve into shocklets and current sheets. Observational data challenges the interpretation of the interstellar plasma in the outer heliosheath as a featureless medium at scales below the collisional mean free path of about 1 au. These results are of importance for better understanding of turbulent processes in the outer heliosheath, including magnetic reconnection, shock-turbulence interaction, Galactic cosmic-ray transport, plasma wave generation, and radio emission.

Combined analysis of AMS-02 (Li,Be,B)/C, N/O, 3He, and 4He data

Context. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) measured several secondary-to-primary ratios enabling a detailed study of Galactic cosmic-ray transport. Aims. We constrain previously derived benchmark scenarios (based on AMS-02 B/C data only) using other secondary-to-primary ratios to test the universality of transport and the presence of a low-rigidity diffusion break. Methods. We use the 1D thin disc/thick halo propagation model of USINE V3.5 and a χ2 minimisation accounting for a covariance matrix of errors (AMS-02 systematics) and nuisance parameters (cross-sections and solar modulation uncertainties). Results. The combined analysis of AMS-02 Li/C, Be/C, and B/C strengthens the case for a diffusion slope of δ = 0.50 ± 0.03 with a low-rigidity break or upturn of the diffusion coefficient at GV rigidities. Our simple model can successfully reproduce all considered data (Li/C, Be/C, B/C, N/O, and 3He/4He), although several issues remain: (i) the quantitative agreement depends on the assumptions made on the poorly constrained correlation lengths of AMS-02 data systematics; (ii) combined analyses are very sensitive to production cross-sections, and we find post-fit values differing by ∼5 − 15% from their most likely values (roughly within currently estimated nuclear uncertainties); (iii) two very distinct regions of the parameter space remain viable, either with reacceleration and convection, or with purely diffusive transport. Conclusions. To take full benefit of combined analyses of AMS-02 data, better nuclear data and a better handle on energy correlations in the data systematic are required. AMS-02 data on heavier species are eagerly awaited to explore cosmic-ray propagation scenarios further.

Modeling the Time Delay Problem of Galactic Cosmic Ray Flux in Solar Cycles 21 and 23

We present a 2-dimensional time-dependent simulation based on Parker’s transport equation (PTE) describing the propagation of energetic astroparticles – cosmic rays (CR) in the heliosphere. PTE is a second order partial differential equation containing four major processes: diffusion, convection, drift, and adiabatic cooling responsible for modulation of the CR flux in the heliosphere. We implement in the numerical simulation, a few physical parameters as the tilt angle, delta , of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS), module, B, of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), and variations of drift effect of the CR particles with solar activity (SA). Our approach is the implementation of two independent parameters (proxies), gamma and nu . The parameters gamma and nu are calculated from various independent sources, gamma , from neutron monitors (NM) daily data, and nu , using the IMF hourly data. The solutions of PTE obtained from our numerical model are compared with the variations of the CR flux recorded by NMs. We prove the existence of a varying delay time (DT) between the changes of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) intensity and the parameters characterizing SA. Based on our investigation, we obtained different DTs in Solar Cycles 21 and 23. We conclude that the calculated DTs, after comparison with the observed DTs, are useful parameters for the study of GCR transport in the heliosphere.

Galactic cosmic ray transport in the heliosphere: Study with muon data

We use the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) solar diurnal anisotropy (SDA) data of Nagoya vertical muon telescope (NagV-MT) to compute the ratio α of GCR free paths normal and parallel to mean interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) B. The values are compared to those computed earlier for the neutron monitors (NMs) of the global network for three sunspot cycles (21–23) and parts of the other two (19, 24). Current GCR modulation theories do not provide any guidance for α, its rigidity and solar cycle dependence. We use a flat heliosphere current sheet and the Master equations derived by Ahluwalia and Dorman [1997] for computing α and study its rigidity dependence and correlation with solar activity for positive (p) and negative (n) polarity intervals of B at 1 AU; B points outward/ inward from the sun during p/n interval in north hemisphere; IMF polarity changes sign near SSN maximum. For NagV-MT (Rm = 60 GV), Rm being the median value of response to GCR differential rigidity spectrum, we find that α is high for p- and low for n-intervals, compared to being nearly flat for NMs; α for NM2 (Rm = 25 GV) is larger than that for NM1 (Rm = 15 GV), implying an increase in α with GCR rigidity. The α values for NagV-MT are low near SSN maximum as is the case for NMs and high near SSN minimum, when effective limiting GCR rigidity (Rc) for SDA is known to be lower than 100 GV. The results challenge the validity of current conceptual understanding of GCR modulation processes in the heliosphere, pointing to a great need to develop an acceptable theory to explain the empirical results reported in this paper.

An Improved Treatment of Neutral Sheet Drift in the Inner Heliosphere

Abstract Drifts due to the curvature and gradients in the heliospheric magnetic field, as well as along the heliospheric current sheet, have long been known to play a significant role in the transport of galactic cosmic rays. Recently, there has been greater interest in the role these drifts play in the transport of solar energetic particles. This study proposes an approach to modeling particle drift velocities in particle transport codes that, while being relatively simple to implement and computationally inexpensive, also models drift effects accurately across a broader range of energies than previous approaches.

Features of the Galactic Cosmic Ray Anisotropy in Solar Cycle 24 and Solar Minima 23/24 and 24/25

We study the role of the drift effect in the temporal changes of the anisotropy of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and the influence of the sector structure of the heliospheric magnetic field on it. We analyze the GCR anisotropy in Solar Cycle 24 and solar minimum 23/24 with negative polarity (qA<0) for the period of 2007 – 2009 and near minimum 24/25 with positive polarity (qA>0) in 2017 – 2018 using data of the global network of Neutron Monitors. We use the harmonic analysis method to calculate the radial and tangential components of the anisotropy of GCRs for different sectors (‘+’ corresponds to the positive and ‘−’ to the negative directions) of the heliospheric magnetic field. We compare the analysis of GCR anisotropy using different evaluations of the mean GCRs rigidity related to Neutron Monitor observations. Then the radial and tangential components are used for characterizing the GCR modulation in the heliosphere. We show that in the solar minimum 23/24 in 2007 – 2009 when qA<0, the drift effect is not visibly evident in the changes of the radial component, i.e. the drift effect is found to produce approx 4% change in the radial component of the GCR anisotropy for 2007 – 2009. Hence the diffusion dominated model of GCR transport is more acceptable in 2007 – 2009. In turn, near the solar minimum 24/25 in 2017 – 2018 when qA>0, the drift effect is evidently visible and produces ≈40% change in the radial component of the GCR anisotropy for 2017 – 2018. So in the period of 2017 – 2018 a diffusion model with noticeably manifested drift is acceptable. The results of this work are in good agreement with the drift theory of GCR modulation, according to which, during negative (positive) polarity cycles, a drift stream of GCRs is directed toward (away from) the Sun, thus giving rise to a 22-year cycle variation of the radial GCR anisotropy.

Experimental Investigation of the Delay Time in Galactic Cosmic Ray Flux in Different Epochs of Solar Magnetic Cycles: 1959\u2009\u2013\u20092014

In the present article, we analyze long-term changes in the intensity of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) in different polarity epochs of the solar magnetic cycles from 1959 to 2014. Our purpose is to carry out a study of the delay time (DT) between the changes of the GCR intensity and various parameters characterizing the conditions in the heliosphere. We prove the existence of varying DTs between the changes of GCR intensity and the parameters characterizing solar activity, such as sunspot number and tilt angle. Based on our investigation, we obtained different DTs in epochs with different global solar magnetic field polarities. We conclude that the observed DTs are very important parameters for the study of GCR transport in the heliosphere.

The HelMod model in the works for inner and outer heliosphere: From AMS to Voyager probes observations

HelMod is a Monte Carlo code developed to describe the transport of Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) through the heliosphere from the interstellar space to the Earth. In the current HelMod version 4 the modulation process, based on Parker’s equation, is applied to the propagation of GCRs in the inner and outer heliosphere, i.e., including the heliosheath. HelMod was proved to reproduce protons, nuclei and electrons cosmic rays spectra observed during solar cycles 23–24 by several detectors, for instance, PAMELA, BESS and AMS-02. In particular, the unprecedented accuracy of AMS-02 observations allowed one a better tuning of the description regarding the solar modulation mechanisms implemented in HelMod. In addition, HelMod demonstrated to be capable of reproducing the fluxes observed by the Voyager probes in the inner and outer regions of heliosphere up to its border.

Joint Constraints on Galactic Diffuse Neutrino Emission from the ANTARES and IceCube Neutrino Telescopes

Abstract The existence of diffuse Galactic neutrino production is expected from cosmic-ray interactions with Galactic gas and radiation fields. Thus, neutrinos are a unique messenger offering the opportunity to test the products of Galactic cosmic-ray interactions up to energies of hundreds of TeV. Here we present a search for this production using ten years of Astronomy with a Neutrino Telescope and Abyss environmental RESearch (ANTARES) track and shower data, as well as seven years of IceCube track data. The data are combined into a joint likelihood test for neutrino emission according to the KRA model assuming a 5 PeV per nucleon Galactic cosmic-ray cutoff. No significant excess is found. As a consequence, the limits presented in this Letter start constraining the model parameter space for Galactic cosmic-ray production and transport.

Origin of the Cosmic Ray Galactic Halo Driven by Advected Turbulence and Self-Generated Waves.

The diffusive paradigm for the transport of Galactic cosmic rays is central to our understanding of the origin of these high energy particles. However, it is worth recalling that the normalization, energy dependence, and spatial extent of the diffusion coefficient in the interstellar medium are fitted to the data and typically are not derived from more basic principles. Here, we discuss a scenario in which the diffusion properties of cosmic rays are derived from a combination of wave self-generation and advection from the Galactic disc, where the sources of cosmic rays are assumed to be located. We show for the first time that a halo naturally arises from these phenomena, with a size of a few kiloparsecs, compatible with the value that typically best fits observations in simple parametric approaches to cosmic ray diffusion. We also show that transport in such a halo results in a hardening in the spectra of primary cosmic rays at ∼300 GV.

Interplanetary Magnetic Field Turbulence and Rigidity Spectrum of the Galactic Cosmic Rays Intensity Variation (1969–2011)

AbstractThe present study investigates the relation between the rigidity R spectrum exponent γ of the galactic cosmic rays (GCR) flux changes (δD(R)/D(R) ∝ R−γ) and the exponents νy and νz of the power spectral density of the By and Bz components of the heliospheric magnetic field (HMF) fluctuations. Two parameters have been introduced: (1) the exponent γ demonstrating the rigidity dependence of long‐term changes of GCR flux on solar activity (SA) and (2) the exponents νy and νz signifying the state of turbulence which is divided of the By and Bz components. This study considers the period of time between 1969 and 2011 divided into four subperiods, according to the solar global magnetic field polarities: (I) 1969–1979, (A &gt; 0) (positive polarity magnetic field lines are directed away from the Sun's northern hemisphere); (II) 1980–1988, (A &lt; 0) (negative polarity magnetic field lines are directed toward the Sun's northern hemisphere); (III) 1991–2001, (A &gt; 0); and (IV) 2002–2011, (A &lt; 0). The paper finds that temporal changes of the resonant frequency (fres) of GCR protons in heliospheric magnetic field turbulence in relation to SA are mainly caused by variations of the induction of B components from year to year, while the contribution of the solar wind speed remains insignificant. The analyses of the four subperiods show that γ increases and νy and νz decrease in the periods of increased SA, and conversely, the γ decreases and νy and νz increase in the periods of reduced SA. The study concludes that the exponents γ, and νy and νz can be considered as important indices (proxies) for research on GCR transport in the heliosphere.

2nd-order optical model of the isotopic dependence of heavy ion absorption cross sections for radiation transport studies

Abstract Heavy ion absorption cross sections play an important role in radiation transport codes used in risk assessment and for shielding studies of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) exposures. Due to the GCR primary nuclei composition and nuclear fragmentation leading to secondary nuclei heavy ions of charge number, Z with 3 ≤ Z ≥ 28 and mass numbers, A with 6 ≤ A ≥ 60 representing about 190 isotopes occur in GCR transport calculations. In this report we describe methods for developing a data-base of isotopic dependent heavy ion absorption cross sections for interactions. Calculations of a 2nd-order optical model solution to coupled-channel solutions to the Eikonal form of the nucleus-nucleus scattering amplitude are compared to 1st-order optical model solutions. The 2nd-order model takes into account two-body correlations in the projectile and target ground-states, which are ignored in the 1st-order optical model. Parameter free predictions are described using one-body and two-body ground state form factors for the isotopes considered and the free nucleon-nucleon scattering amplitude. Root mean square (RMS) matter radii for protons and neutrons are taken from electron and muon scattering data and nuclear structure models. We report on extensive comparisons to experimental data for energy-dependent absorption cross sections for over 100 isotopes of elements from Li to Fe interacting with carbon and aluminum targets. Agreement between model and experiments are generally within 10% for the 1st-order optical model and improved to less than 5% in the 2nd-order optical model in the majority of comparisons. Overall the 2nd-order optical model leads to a reduction in absorption compared to the 1st-order optical model for heavy ion interactions, which influences estimates of nuclear matter radii.

A signature of anisotropic cosmic-ray transport in the gamma-ray sky

A crucial process in Galactic cosmic-ray (CR) transport is the spatial diffusion due to the interaction with the interstellar turbulent magnetic field. Usually, CR diffusion is assumed to be uniform and isotropic all across the Galaxy. However, this picture is clearly inaccurate: several data-driven and theoretical arguments, as well as dedicated numerical simulations, show that diffusion exhibits highly anisotropic properties with respect to the direction of a background (ordered) magnetic field (i.e., parallel or perpendicular to it). In this paper we focus on a recently discovered anomaly in the hadronic CR spectrum inferred by the Fermi-LAT gamma-ray data at different positions in the Galaxy, i.e. the progressive hardening of the proton slope at low Galactocentric radii. We propose the idea that this feature can be interpreted as a signature of anisotropic diffusion in the complex Galactic magnetic field: in particular, the harder slope in the inner Galaxy is due, in our scenario, to the parallel diffusive escape along the poloidal component of the large-scale, regular, magnetic field. We implement this idea in a numerical framework, based on the DRAGON code, and perform detailed numerical tests on the accuracy of our setup. We discuss how the effect proposed depends on the relevant free parameters involved. Based on low-energy extrapolation of the few focused numerical simulations aimed at determining the scalings of the anisotropic diffusion coefficients, we finally present a set of plausible models that reproduce the behavior of the CR proton slopes inferred by gamma-ray data.

New constraints on all flavor Galactic diffuse neutrino emission with the ANTARES telescope

The flux of very high-energy neutrinos produced in our Galaxy by the interaction of accelerated cosmic rays with the interstellar medium is not yet determined. The characterization of this flux will shed light on Galactic accelerator features, gas distribution morphology and Galactic cosmic ray transport. The central Galactic plane can be the site of an enhanced neutrino production, thus leading to anisotropies in the extraterrestrial neutrino signal as measured by the IceCube Collaboration. The ANTARES neutrino telescope, located in the Mediterranean Sea, offers a favourable view on this part of the sky, thereby allowing for a contribution to the determination of this flux. The expected diffuse Galactic neutrino emission can be obtained linking a model of generation and propagation of cosmic rays with the morphology of the gas distribution in the Milky Way. In this paper, the so-called "Gamma model" introduced recently to explain the high-energy gamma ray diffuse Galactic emission, is assumed as reference. The neutrino flux predicted by the "Gamma model" depends of the assumed primary cosmic ray spectrum cut-off. Considering a radially-dependent diffusion coefficient, this proposed scenario is able to account for the local cosmic ray measurements, as well as for the Galactic gamma ray observations. Nine years of ANTARES data are used in this work to search for a possible Galactic contribution according to this scenario. All flavour neutrino interactions are considered. No excess of events is observed and an upper limit is set on the neutrino flux of $1.1$ ($1.2$) times the prediction of the "Gamma model" assuming the primary cosmic ray spectrum cut-off at 5 (50) PeV. This limit excludes the diffuse Galactic neutrino emission as the major cause of the "spectral anomaly" between the two hemispheres measured by IceCube.

The pinching method for Galactic cosmic ray positrons: Implications in the light of precision measurements

Context. Two years ago, the Ams-02 collaboration released the most precise measurement of the cosmic ray positron flux. In the conventional approach, in which positrons are considered as purely secondary particles, the theoretical predictions fall way below the data above 10 GeV. One suggested explanation for this anomaly is the annihilation of dark matter particles, the so-called weakly interactive massive particles (WIMPs), into standard model particles. Most analyses have focused on the high-energy part of the positron spectrum, where the anomaly lies, disregarding the complicated GeV low-energy region where Galactic cosmic ray transport is more difficult to model and solar modulation comes into play. Aims. Given the high quality of the latest measurements by Ams-02, it is now possible to systematically re-examine the positron anomaly over the entire energy range, this time taking into account transport processes so far neglected, such as Galactic convection or diffusive re-acceleration. These might impact somewhat on the high-energy positron flux so that a complete and systematic estimate of the secondary component must be performed and compared to the Ams-02 measurements. The flux yielded by WIMPs also needs to be re-calculated more accurately to explore how dark matter might source the positron excess. Methods. We devise a new semi-analytical method to take into account transport processes thus far neglected, but important below a few GeV. It is essentially based on the pinching of inverse Compton and synchrotron energy losses from the magnetic halo, where they take place, inside the Galactic disc. The corresponding energy loss rate is artificially enhanced by the so-called pinching factor, which needs to be calculated at each energy. We have checked that this approach reproduces the results of the Green function method at the per mille level. This new tool is fast and allows one to carry out extensive scans over the cosmic ray propagation parameters. Results. We derive the positron flux from sub-GeV to TeV energies for both gas spallation and dark matter annihilation. We carry out a scan over the cosmic ray propagation parameters, which we strongly constrain by requiring that the secondary component does not overshoot the Ams-02 measurements. We find that only models with large diffusion coefficients are selected by this test. We then add to the secondary component the positron flux yielded by dark matter annihilation. We carry out a scan over WIMP mass to fit the annihilation cross-section and branching ratios, successively exploring the cases of a typical beyond-the-standard-model WIMP and an annihilation through light mediators. In the former case, the best fit yields a p-value of 0.4% for a WIMP mass of 264 GeV, a value that does not allow to reproduce the highest energy data points. If we require the mass to be larger than 500 GeV, the best-fit χ2 per degree of freedom always exceeds a value of 3. The case of light mediators is even worse, with a best-fit χ2 per degree of freedom always larger than 15. Conclusions. We explicitly show that the cosmic ray positron flux is a powerful and independent probe of Galactic cosmic ray propagation. It should be used as a complementary observable to other tracers such as the boron-to-carbon ratio. This analysis shows also that the pure dark matter interpretation of the positron excess is strongly disfavoured. This conclusion is based solely on the positron data, and no other observation, such as the antiproton flux or the CMB anisotropies, needs to be invoked.

Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) and Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) as tracers of solar wind conditions near Saturn: Event lists and applications

The lack of an upstream solar wind monitor poses a major challenge to any study that investigates the influence of the solar wind on the configuration and the dynamics of Saturn’s magnetosphere. Here we show how Cassini MIMI/LEMMS observations of Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) and Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) transients, that are both linked to energetic processes in the heliosphere such us Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections (ICMEs) and Corotating Interaction Regions (CIRs), can be used to trace enhanced solar wind conditions at Saturn’s distance. SEP protons can be easily distinguished from magnetospheric ions, particularly at the MeV energy range. Many SEPs are also accompanied by strong GCR Forbush Decreases. GCRs are detectable as a low count-rate noise signal in a large number of LEMMS channels. As SEPs and GCRs can easily penetrate into the outer and middle magnetosphere, they can be monitored continuously, even when Cassini is not situated in the solar wind. A survey of the MIMI/LEMMS dataset between 2004 and 2016 resulted in the identification of 46 SEP events. Most events last more than two weeks and have their lowest occurrence rate around the extended solar minimum between 2008 and 2010, suggesting that they are associated to ICMEs rather than CIRs, which are the main source of activity during the declining phase and the minimum of the solar cycle. We also list of 17 time periods ( > 50 days each) where GCRs show a clear solar periodicity ( ∼ 13 or 26 days). The 13-day period that derives from two CIRs per solar rotation dominates over the 26-day period in only one of the 17 cases catalogued. This interval belongs to the second half of 2008 when expansions of Saturn’s electron radiation belts were previously reported to show a similar periodicity. That observation not only links the variability of Saturn’s electron belts to solar wind processes, but also indicates that the source of the observed periodicity in GCRs may be local. In this case GCR measurements can be used to provide the phase of CIRs at Saturn. We further demonstrate the utility of our survey results by determining that: (a) Magnetospheric convection induced by solar wind disturbances associated with SEPs is a necessary driver for the formation of transient radiation belts that were observed throughout Saturn’s magnetosphere on several occasions during 2005 and on day 105 of 2012. (b) An enhanced solar wind perturbation period that is connected to an SEP of day 332/2013 was the definite source of a strong magnetospheric compression which led to open flux loading in the magnetotail. Finally, we propose how the event lists can define the basis for single case studies or statistical investigations on how Saturn and its moons (particularly Titan) respond to extreme solar wind conditions or on the transport of SEPs and GCRs in the heliosphere.

Galactic cosmic ray propagation models using Picard

I will give an overview on the numerical approach for the solution of the Galactic cosmic-ray propagation problem used within the recently introduced code Picard. The code solves the transport equation for each cosmic-ray species resulting in a prediction of the cosmic ray flux everywhere in the Galaxy. Picard is a prominent example for the current transition from two-dimensional azimuthally symmetric models of Galactic cosmic-ray transport to those that allow higher degrees of realism. In Picard this is achieved by use of contemporary numerical solvers that allow efficient computation of very high resolution models. I will address the new physics that can be incorporated in such three-dimensional models, e.g. example problems like the transition from axisymmetric cosmic-ray source distributions to spiral-arm cosmic-ray source distributions, including consequences for the various observables related to cosmic rays.

Diffusion of cosmic rays in a model with interstellar turbulence damping due to interaction with energetic particles

A self-consistent model of galactic cosmic ray transport is considered. The resonance wave–particle interaction in this model causes a cascade of magnetosonic waves to decay in the interstellar medium. The calculated coefficient of diffusion of cosmic rays in the Galaxy has a characteristic minimum at an energy of several GeV/nucleon, which agrees with the empirical diffusion model of cosmic ray propagation.