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Advances in particles and field research in the satellite era
Author(s) -
Hess W. N.,
Mead G. D.,
Nakada M. P.
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/rg003i004p00521
Subject(s) - cosmic ray , physics , solar wind , interplanetary magnetic field , solar energetic particles , health threat from cosmic rays , astrophysical plasma , solar system , van allen radiation belt , astronomy , plasma , charged particle , interplanetary medium , interplanetary spaceflight , heliosphere , astrobiology , space physics , magnetosphere , coronal mass ejection , nuclear physics , ion , quantum mechanics
The last six years have seen a rapid progress in the exploration of extraterrestrial phenomena. This paper gives a survey of the more important results from investigations of energetic particle radiations, plasmas, and magnetic fields in space. One of the highlights of these investigations was the discovery and study of the continuous flow of plasma away from the sun, the so‐called solar wind. This plasma flow confines the earth's magnetic field within about 10 R E on the day side and is responsible for the magnetospheric tail, which is thought to extend beyond the orbit of the moon. Inside this cavity, large fluxes of magnetically confined energetic charged particles were discovered. Confinement lifetimes in the tail have not yet been established; however, out to roughly 8 R E the particles are trapped and constitute the Van Allen radiation belt. The study of the solar cosmic rays that accompany some solar flares is enhancing our understanding of solar processes and of the interplanetary medium through which the solar protons travel. Continued investigations of cosmic rays are leading to a better knowledge of the heavy particle component, of the low‐energy end (below 100 Mev) of the spectrum, and of the processes responsible for Forbush decreases. On the basis of these discoveries, a new picture is emerging of our environment and, more generally, of the processes in the solar system.