Physics Commons^™

Studying The Impact Of The Geospace Environment On Solar Lithosphere Coupling And Earthquake Activity, Dimitar Ouzounov, Galina Khachikyan

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In solar–terrestrial physics, there is an open question: does a geomagnetic storm affect earthquakes? We expand research in this direction, analyzing the seismic situation after geomagnetic storms (GMs) accompanied by the precipitation of relativistic electrons from the outer radiation belt to form an additional radiation belt (RB) around lower geomagnetic lines. We consider four widely discussed cases in the literature for long-lived (weeks, months) RBs due to GMs and revealed that the 1/GMs 24 March 1991 with a new RB at L~2.6 was followed by an M7.0 earthquake in Alaska, 30 May 1991, near footprint L = 2.69; the 2/GMs …

Cause Of Large Post-Flood Jump In Earth's Carbon 14, D Russell Humphreys

Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism

Accelerated fusion in the Sun during the flood caused large post-flood jump in Earth’s ¹⁴C

D. Russell Humphreys

Creationists studying carbon-14 dating are generally aware of the need to have a large increase in Earth’s ¹⁴C/C ratio during the post-flood Ice Age (Oard, 2021), from about 0.5% of today’s ratio in fossils (Baumgardner, 2005) to more than 95% of today’s ratio by the time of Moses, 1500 B.C. Today cosmic-ray-generated neutrons hitting ¹⁴N nuclei in the atmosphere produce most of the ¹⁴C. With today’s influx of cosmic rays, it would take about 14,000 years to build …

Exploring The High Energy Frontiers Of The Milky Way With Ground-Based Gamma-Ray Astronomy: Pevatrons And The Quest For The Origin Of Galactic Cosmic-Rays, Ekrem Oğuzhan Angüner

Turkish Journal of Physics

Cosmic rays (CRs) are charged particles that arrive at Earth isotropically from all directions and interact with the atmosphere. The presence of a spectral knee feature seen in the CR spectrum at 3 PeV energies is an evidence that astrophysical objects within our Galaxy, which are known as 'Galactic PeVatrons', are capable of accelerating particles to PeV energies. Scientists have been trying to identify the origin of Galactic CRs and have been looking for signatures of Galactic PeVatrons through neutral messengers. Recent advancements in ground-based γ-ray astronomy have led to the discovery of 12 Galactic sources emitting above 100 TeV …

Astrophysics, Cosmology And Particle Phenomenology At The Energy Frontier, Jorge Fernandez Soriano

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation consists of two parts, treating significantly separated fields. Each part consists on several chapters, each treating a somewhat isolated topic from the rest. In each chapter, I present some of the work developed during my passage through the graduate program, which has mostly been published elsewhere.

Part I – Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics

• Chapter 1: In this chapter we present an introduction to the topic of cosmic ray physics, with an special focus on the so-called ultra high energy cosmic rays: their potential origins, effects during their propagation between their sources and Earth, the different techniques used …

Exploring The Glow Of The Universe In Gamma-Rays And Hunting Distant Agn, Changam Meenakshi Rajagopal

All Dissertations

The entirety of the γ-ray radiation permeating our Universe is encoded in the extragalactic γ-ray background. This is a superposition of resolved sources, mostly powerful relativistic jets powered by supermassive black holes, i.e., blazars, and an unresolved isotropic component, aka, the diffuse isotropic gamma-ray background (IGRB). Studying the IGRB can help unveil its composition, as well as unearth multi-messenger relationships between the intensities of PeV neutrinos, ultra high energy cosmic rays (> 1018 eV), and sub-TeV γ-rays. The comparable energy budgets of these three phenomena (neutrinos, UHECR, and γ-rays) indicates a physical connection or a common source amongst them. On …

Evidence For A Supergalactic Structure Of Magnetic Deflection Multiplets Of Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays, Rasha U. Abbasi

Physics: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Evidence for a large-scale supergalactic cosmic-ray multiplet (arrival directions correlated with energy) structure is reported for ultra-high-energy cosmic-ray (UHECR) energies above 1019 eV using 7 years of data from the Telescope Array (TA) surface detector and updated to 10 years. Previous energy–position correlation studies have made assumptions regarding magnetic field shapes and strength, and UHECR composition. Here the assumption tested is that, because the supergalactic plane is a fit to the average matter density of the local large-scale structure, UHECR sources and intervening extragalactic magnetic fields are correlated with this plane. This supergalactic deflection hypothesis is tested by the entire …

The American Astronomical Society, Find Out More The Institute Of Physics, Find Out More Search For Large-Scale Anisotropy On Arrival Directions Of Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays Observed With The Telescope Array Experiment, Rasha U. Abbasi

Physics: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Motivated by the detection of a significant dipole structure in the arrival directions of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays above 8 EeV reported by the Pierre Auger Observatory (Auger), we search for a large-scale anisotropy using data collected with the surface detector array of the Telescope Array Experiment (TA). With 11 yr of TA data, a dipole structure in a projection of the R.A. is fitted with an amplitude of 3.3% ± 1.9% and a phase of 131° ± 33°. The corresponding 99% confidence-level upper limit on the amplitude is 7.3%. At the current level of statistics, the fitted result is compatible …

A Search For Neutrino Emission From Fast Radio Bursts With Six Years Of Icecube Data, Karen Andeen

Physics Faculty Research and Publications

We present a search for coincidence between IceCube TeV neutrinos and fast radio bursts (FRBs). During the search period from 2010 May 31 to 2016 May 12, a total of 29 FRBs with 13 unique locations have been detected in the whole sky. An unbinned maximum likelihood method was used to search for spatial and temporal coincidence between neutrinos and FRBs in expanding time windows, in both the northern and southern hemispheres. No significant correlation was found in six years of IceCube data. Therefore, we set upper limits on neutrino fluence emitted by FRBs as a function of time window …

Astrophysical Neutrinos And Cosmic Rays Observed By Icecube, Karen Andeen, Icecube Collaboration

Physics Faculty Research and Publications

The core mission of the IceCube neutrino observatory is to study the origin and propagation of cosmic rays. IceCube, with its surface component IceTop, observes multiple signatures to accomplish this mission. Most important are the astrophysical neutrinos that are produced in interactions of cosmic rays, close to their sources and in interstellar space. IceCube is the first instrument that measures the properties of this astrophysical neutrino flux and constrains its origin. In addition, the spectrum, composition, and anisotropy of the local cosmic-ray flux are obtained from measurements of atmospheric muons and showers. Here we provide an overview of …

Solar Modulation Of The Cosmic Ray Intensity And The Measurement Of The Cerenkov Reemission In Nova’S Liquid Scintillator, Philip James Mason

Doctoral Dissertations

The NOνA (NuMI Off-axis electron neutrino Appearance) experiment is a long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. Its purpose is to observe the oscillation of ν_μ (muon neutrino) to ν_e (electron neutrino) and to investigate the neutrino mass hierarchy and CP violation in the neutrino sector. Two detectors have been built for this purpose, a Near Detector 300 feet underground at Fermilab, and a Far Detector, on the surface at Ash River, Minnesota.

The completion of NOνA’s Far Detector in October 2014 enabled not only the recent measurement of neutrino oscillations, but an array of …

A Method For Determining The Mass Composition Of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays By Predicting The Depth Of First Interaction Of Individual Extensive Air Showers, Tolga Yapici

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Particle accelerators have been used to characterize the properties of particle and subatomic particles. The most advanced particle accelerators built, LHC, can run at 1017 eV. It is not possible with current technology to accelerate particle to the energies that can be detected by cosmic ray observatories.

In the past, by the direct measurements of cosmic rays, scientists discovered sub-atomic particles. Being accelerated to energies higher than 1018 eV, cosmic rays carry important information for particle physics. We have developed a method, which is a combination of Artificial Neural Networks and simple algebraic method that uses parameters from the extensive …

Multidimensional Simulations Of Non-Linear Cosmic Ray Production In Supernova Remnant Evolution, Joshua Wood

All Dissertations

When a high-mass star (& 4Msun) explodes at the end of its life, a supernova occurs, leaving its degenerate core and a fast-moving shell of matter, known as a supernova remnant (SNR). The SNR shell lasts for many thousands of years, generating emissions from low-frequency radio (~ 10-7 eV) up to γ-ray regime (~ 1015 eV). It is also believed that SNRs are the predominant source of galactic cosmic rays, accelerating a population of thermal ions, primarily protons, up to relativistic energies by means of the diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) mechanism. The small population of thermal (Boltzmann) particles, p ~ …

A Pot Of Gold At The End Of The Cosmic "Raynbow"?, L. A. Anchordoqui, M. T. Dova, T. P. Mccauley, T. Paul, S. Reucroft, J. D. Swain

Thomas Paul

We critically review the common belief that ultrahigh energy cosmic rays are protons or atomic nuclei with masses not exceeding that of iron. We find that heavier nuclei are indeed possible, and discuss possible sources and acceleration mechanisms for such primaries. We also show detailed simulations of extensive air showers produced by "superheavy" nuclei, and discuss prospects for their detection in future experiments.

The First Cosmic Ray Albedo Proton Map Of The Moon, Jody K. Wilson, Harlan E. Spence, Justin Kasper, Michael Golightly, J. B. Blake, J. E. Mazur, L. W. Townsend, A. W. Case, M. D. Looper, C. Zeitlin, Nathan A. Schwadron

Physics & Astronomy

[1] Neutrons emitted from the Moon are produced by the impact of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) within the regolith. GCRs are high-energy particles capable of smashing atomic nuclei in the lunar regolith and producing a shower of energetic protons, neutrons and other subatomic particles. Secondary particles that are ejected out of the regolith become “albedo” particles. The neutron albedo has been used to study the hydrogen content of the lunar regolith, which motivates our study of albedo protons. In principle, the albedo protons should vary as a function of the input GCR source and possibly as a result of surface …

Magnetic Field Amplification In Electron Phase-Space Holes And Related Effects, R. A. Treumann, W. Baumjohann

Dartmouth Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Muon-Induced Backgrounds In The Cuoricino Experiment, E. Andreotti, C. Arnaboldi, F.T. Avignone Iii, M. Balata, I. Bandac, M. Barucci, J.W. Beeman, F. Bellini, T. Bloxham, C. Brofferio, A. Bryant, C. Bucci, L. Canonica, S. Capelli, L. Carbone, M. Carrettoni, M. Clemenza, O. Cremonesi, R.J. Creswick, S. Di Domizio, M.J. Dolinski, L. Ejzak, R. Faccini, H.A. Farach, E. Ferri, F. Ferroni, E. Fiorini, L. Foggetta, A. Giachero, L. Gironi, A. Giuliani, P. Gorla, E. Guardincerri, T.D. Gutierrez, E.E. Haller, R. Kadel, K. Kazkaz, S. Kraft, L. Kogler, Yu. G. Kolomensky, C. Maiano, R.H. Maruyama, C. Martinez, M. Martinez, L. Mizouni, S. Morganti, S. Nisi, C. Nones, E.B. Norman, A. Nucciotti, F. Orio, M. Pallavicini, V. Palmieri, L. Pattavina, M. Pavan, M. Pedretti, G. Pessina, S. Pirro, E. Previtali, L. Risegari, C. Rosenfeld, C. Rusconi, C. Salvioni, S. Sangiorgio, D. Schaeffer, N.D. Scielzo, M. Sisti, A.R. Smith, C. Tomei, G. Ventura, M. Vignati

Physics

To better understand the contribution of cosmic ray muons to the CUORICINO background, 10 plastic scintillator detectors were installed at the CUORICINO site and operated during the final 3 months of the experiment. From these measurements, an upper limit of 0.0021 counts/(keV kg yr) (95% CL) was obtained on the cosmic ray-induced background in the neutrinoless double beta decay region of interest. The measurements were also compared to GEANT4 simulations.

Multipoint, High Time Resolution Galactic Cosmic Ray Observations Associated With Two Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections, Andrew P. Jordan, Harlan E. Spence, J. B. Blake, T. Mulligan, D. N. A. Shaul, M. Galametz

Physics & Astronomy

[1] Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) play an important role in our understanding of the interplanetary medium (IPM). The causes of their short timescale variations, however, remain largely unexplored. In this paper, we compare high time resolution, multipoint space-based GCR data to explore structures in the IPM that cause these variations. To ensure that features we see in these data actually relate to conditions in the IPM, we look for correlations between the GCR time series from two instruments onboard the Polar and INTEGRAL (International Gamma Ray Astrophysical Laboratory) satellites, respectively inside and outside Earth's magnetosphere. We analyze the period of …

Orion's Bar: Physical Conditions Across The Definitive H+/H0/H2 Interface, E. W. Pellegrini, J. A. Baldwin, Gary J. Ferland, G. Shaw, S. Heathcote

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Previous work has shown the Orion Bar to be an interface between ionized and molecular gas, viewed roughly edge-on, which is excited by the light from the Trapezium cluster. Much of the emission from any star-forming region will originate from such interfaces, so the Bar serves as a foundation test of any emission model. Here we combine X-ray, optical, infrared (IR), and radio data sets to derive emission spectra along the transition from H⁺ to H⁰ to H₂ regions. We then reproduce the spectra of these layers with a simulation that simultaneously accounts for the detailed microphysics …

Development Of Cosmic Ray Simulation Program -- Earth Cosmic Ray Shower (Ecrs), Sampath S. Hakmana Witharana

Physics and Astronomy Dissertations

ECRS is a program for the detailed simulation of extensive air shower initiated by high energy cosmic ray particles. In this dissertation work, a Geant4 based ECRS simulation was designed and developed to study secondary cosmic ray particle showers in the full range of Earth's atmosphere. A proper atmospheric air density and geomagnetic field are implemented in order to correctly simulate the charged particles interactions in the Earth's atmosphere. The initial simulation was done for the Atlanta (33.460 N , 84.250 W) region. Four different types of primary proton energies (109, 1010, 1011 and 1012 eV) were considered to determine …

Integral Neutron Multiplicity Measurements From Cosmic Ray Interactions In Lead, Thomas E. Ward, Alexander A. Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai A. Kudryashev, Denis E. Beller

Transmutation Sciences Physics (TRP)

Sixty element ³He neutron multiplicity detector systems were designed, constructed and tested for use in cosmic ray experiments with a 30-cm cube lead target. A series of measurements were performed for the cosmic ray configuration at ground level (3 meters water equivalent, mwe), in the St. Petersburg metro tunnel (185 mwe), and in the Pyhäsalmi mine in Finland (583 and 1185 mwe). Anomalous coincidence events with charged cosmic ray particles at sea level produced events with 100-120 neutrons due possibly to the total disintegration of the Pb nucleus. These events were also detected at 185 mwe, but the particles …

East-West And Radial Anisotropy In Cosmic Ray Modulation, Rekha Agarwal Mishra, Rajesh K. Mishra

Turkish Journal of Physics

The cosmic ray (CR) data observed with the Deep River neutron monitoring station has been harmonically analyzed for the period 1964--95 to obtain the diurnal and semi-diurnal components of cosmic ray intensity on geomagnetically 60 quiet days. The annual diurnal anisotropy vectors have been resolved into two components: one along the 12-Hr direction, the radial anisotropy component; and the other along 18-Hr direction, east-west anisotropy component. It is observed that when the polarity of solar poloidal magnetic field (SPMF) in northern hemisphere (NH) is positive, the radial anisotropy component increases; whereas, the east-west anisotropy component decreases. This results in shifting …

Comparative Study Of First Two Harmonics In Cosmic Ray Intensity For The Period 1964-95, Rekha Agarwal Mishra, Rajesh K. Mishra

Turkish Journal of Physics

The Deep River neutron monitor data has been harmonically analyzed for the period 1964--95 covering three solar cycles 20, 21 and 22, looking for a long term trend of the diurnal and semi-diurnal anisotropies of cosmic ray intensity on geomagnetically 60 quiet days. The amplitude of both the harmonics remains statistically constant during 1964-70. The amplitudes of the first harmonic is found to be low during 1965, 1967, 1976-77, 1986-87, 1991, 1993 and 1995. The amplitude of diurnal anisotropy acquired exceptionally large values in 1985, whereas semi-diurnal anisotropy acquired large values in 1974-75 and in 1984, which coincided with epochs …

Gravitational Synchrotron Radiation From Cosmic Strings, Alan Cresswell, Robert L. Zimmerman

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

This work studies the gravitational synchrotron radiation emitted from arbitrary cusps of cosmic strings. The results are expressed in terms of four parameters describing the motion of such a cusp. The power spectrum is derived for cusps moving at unit velocity. By using a phenomenological approach the authors also derive the power emitted when the radiation reaction on the cusps is taken into account. In both cases, the synchrotron nature of the radiation produces a power spectrum emitted in a narrow forward cone. If cosmic strings do exist, the radiation emitted by their cusps would seem to be a potential …

Cosmic Radiation And Radio-Carbon Age Determination, Leland S. Bohl

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

No abstract provided.