Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-21-2003

Publication Title

Journal of Geophysical Research

Publisher

Wiley

Abstract

The Solar Maximum Mission satellite’s Gamma Ray Spectrometer spent much of its 1980–1989 mission pointed at Earth, accumulating spectra of atmospheric albedo γ-rays. Its 28◦ orbit ensured that a range of geomagnetic latitudes was sampled. We measured the variation with time and cutoff rigidity of some key γ-ray lines which are diagnos-tic of the intensity of the Galactic cosmic radiation penetrating the geomagnetic cutoff and of the secondary neutrons produced in the atmosphere. We found that the inten-sities of nuclear lines at 1.6 MeV, 2.3 MeV and 4.4 MeV varied inversely with solar ac-tivity in cycles 21–22 as expected from the theory of solar modulation of cosmic rays. They were found to be strongly anticorrelated with cutoff rigidity, as expected from the theory of the cutoff, falling by a factor ∼ 3.6 between the lowest (< 7 GV) and high-est (> 13 GV) rigidities sampled. The solar cycle modulation was particularly marked at the lowest rigidities, reaching an amplitude of 16%.

Comments

Wiley holds the copyright. Published version may be found here (subscription may be required): http://publications.agu.org/journals/

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