Energetic antiprotons trapped in the magnetosphere of the Earth
Abstract
The possible existence of noticeable fluxes of antiparticles in the Earth magnetosphere is predicted on theoretical considerations here. The antiprotons expected at several hundred kilometers of altitudes, we do not believe are of direct extraterrestrial origin, but are the natural products of nuclear reactions of the high-energy primary cosmic rays (CR) with the constituents of the terrestrial atmosphere. Extraterrestrial, galactic antiprotons are themselves of secondary in origin, i.e. they are born in nuclear reactions of the same CR particles passing through 5-7 g/cm2 of interstellar matter encountered during their lifetime in the Galaxy. We expect that the fluxes of magnetospheric antiprotons are higher compared to the interstellar fluxes because the fluxes get accumulated due to confinement by the magnetic field of the Earth. We present the results of the computations of the antiproton fluxes at 50 MeV to several GeV energies due to the CR particle interactions with the matter in the interstellar space, and also with the residual atmosphere at altitudes of ~1000 km over the Earth's surface. The estimates show that the magnetospheric antiproton fluxes are greater by two orders of magnitude compared to the interstellar fluxes measured at energies <1 GeV.
- Publication:
-
EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly
- Pub Date:
- April 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003EAEJA.....6500G