The role of magnetic helicity in cosmic ray transport theoryIt has been found that the computed values of the mean free path for pitch angle scattering of low rigidity cosmic rays computed from weak turbulence theory are systematically larger than the values inferred from analyses of solar particle events. Reasons for this discrepancy are considered, taking into account components of the spectral tensor of the magnetic field fluctuations which can contribute to pitch angle scattering. The contributions of the additional terms can be estimated from the interplanetary magnetic field. It is shown that these additional contributions can be significant. A description is given of a formalism which includes the possibility that the field magnitude is constant. The formalism provides a formal basis for the heuristic arguments made by Goldstein (1980).
Document ID
19820039099
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Goldstein, M. L. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Matthaeus, W. H. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, Greenbelt, MD, United States)