A hysteresis effect in cosmic ray modulation

The rigidity dependence is investigated in the modulation of cosmic ray protons and alphas at intermediate (2-13 Gv) rigidities during the declines and recoveries of the cosmic ray flux near cosmic ray minimum. The results include the finding that sudden changes in the modulation of the primary cosmic rays are initiated by large solar particle outflow and begin as type I Forbush decreases. Typically, the modulation spectrum becomes flatter at intermediate rigidity below 13 Gv and steeper at rigidities above 13 Gv during early recovery.