Galactic Cosmic-Ray Propagation in the Inner Heliosphere: Improved Force-Field Model

Abstract

A key goal of heliophysics is to understand how cosmic rays propagate in the solar system's complex, dynamic environment. One observable is solar modulation, i.e., how the flux and spectrum of cosmic rays changes as they propagate inward. We construct an improved force-field model, taking advantage of new measurements of magnetic power spectral density by Parker Solar Probe to predict solar modulation within the Earth's orbit. We find that modulation of cosmic rays between the Earth and Sun is modest, at least at solar minimum and in the ecliptic plane. Our results agree much better with the limited data on cosmic-ray radial gradients within Earth's orbit than past treatments of the force-field model. Our predictions can be tested with forthcoming direct cosmic-ray measurements in the inner heliosphere by Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter. They are also important for interpreting the gamma-ray emission from the Sun due to scattering of cosmic rays with solar matter and photons.

16 pages, 9 figures; v2 matches the journal version

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Cited by in corpus (9)

• Solar Energetic Particle Acceleration at a Spherical Shock with the Shock Normal Angle ${\theta }_{B_n}$ Evolving in Space and Time
• A New Component from the Quiet Sun: Synchrotron Radiation from Galactic Cosmic-Ray Electrons
• Revisiting GeV-scale annihilating dark matter with the AMS-02 positron fraction
• Small-Scale Magnetic Fields are Critical to Shaping Solar Gamma-Ray Emission
• Distinctive nuclear signatures of low-energy atmospheric neutrinos
• Solar modulation of AMS-02 daily proton and Helium fluxes with modified force field approximation models
• Probing solar modulation of AMS-02 time-dependent D, ${}^3$He and ${}^4$He fluxes with modified force field approximation
• First Observations of Solar Halo Gamma Rays Over a Full Solar Cycle
• Angular Distribution of Gamma Rays Produced in Proton-Proton Collisions