A team of researchers from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Collaboration has published two papers in the journal Physical Review Letters, presenting new findings based on eleven years of data collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The studies focus on the behavior of particles in the heliosphere, the region of space dominated by the Sun's magnetic field, over a single solar cycle.
The research explores how the Sun's magnetic field, which fluctuates in strength over an 11-year cycle, influences the movement and interactions of charged particles within the heliosphere. These particles include those originating from the Sun and planets, as well as galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) from beyond the solar system. The AMS measures the masses and energies of these particles when they collide with its detectors.
One study analyzed the behavior of GCR antiprotons, finding trends related to changes in the heliospheric magnetic field and interactions with other particles. The second study examined the fluxes of cosmic nuclei, including helium, beryllium, lithium, boron, nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen, over the same solar cycle, revealing similar variations in time and amplitude.
These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics within the heliosphere and the influence of the Sun on the behavior of particles throughout our solar system. The research also highlights the importance of long-term observations like those provided by the AMS for unraveling the mysteries of cosmic rays and their interactions with the heliosphere.