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Statistical properties of shock-accelerated ions in the outer heliosphereReported here are statistical studied of interplanetary protons (about 0.5-1.5 MeV) as measured by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in the outer heliosphere between about 1 and 22 AU. The acceleration processes which produce the fluctuations in intensity of the protons throughout the interval studied are caused by solar flare-generated shock waves and corotating shock structures in the solar wind. It is found that the proton count rates can be represented by a lognormal distribution, independent of the phase of the solar cycle in which the measurements were made. Power spectra of the logarithm of the counts show that for frequencies in the range of about 0.02-0.5 cycles per day, the spectra can be characterized as about f exp -2. At lower frequencies, the spectra turn over and flatten. Over the entire frequency range studied, about 0.002-0.5 cycles per day, the spectra are therefore nonfractal. The rollover in the spectra at about 100 days probably represents the reorganization time for solar wind streams within the coronal source at the sun.
Document ID
19910072272
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Lanzeroti, L. J.
(Bell Telephone Labs., Inc. Murray Hill, NJ, United States)
Thomson, D. J.
(Bell Telephone Labs., Inc. Murray Hill, NJ, United States)
Maclennan, C. G.
(AT&T Bell Laboratories Murray Hill, NJ, United States)
Gold, R. E.
(Bell Telephone Labs., Inc. Murray Hill, NJ, United States)
Decker, R. E.
(Bell Telephone Labs., Inc. Murray Hill, NJ, United States)
Krimigis, S. M.
(Johns Hopkins University Laurel, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
October 20, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters
Volume: 380
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Space Radiation
Accession Number
91A56895
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: N00037-87-C-5301
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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