Premium
Magnetic helicity of the IMF and the solar modulation of cosmic rays
Author(s) -
Bieber John W.,
Evenson Paul,
Matthaeus William H.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl014i008p00864
Subject(s) - physics , helicity , heliosphere , interplanetary magnetic field , cosmic ray , heliospheric current sheet , magnetic helicity , interplanetary spaceflight , magnetic field , electron , modulation (music) , astrophysics , polarity (international relations) , solar wind , astronomy , dynamo , nuclear physics , particle physics , quantum mechanics , genetics , biology , acoustics , cell
Using interplanetary magnetic field data acquired at 1 AU, we show that the distribution of magnetic helicity in the heliosphere is asymmetric about the current sheet, in accord with recent theoretical predictions. Such an asymmetric distribution of helicity can in principle explain the sensitivity of the solar modulation of cosmic rays to the sun's magnetic polarity, as observed in charge sign dependent modulation, Jovian electrons, and anomalous 4 He.