[Kallenrode 1992 c]
Proton and electron mean free paths: The Palmer consensus revisited
J. W. Bieber, W. H. Matthaeus, C. W. Smith,
W. Wanner, M.-B. Kallenrode and G. Wibberenz.
Proton and electron mean free paths: The Palmer consensus revisited.
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, 420, 294-306. 1994a
Contents
We present experimental and theoretical evidence suggesting that the mean
free path of cosmic-ray electrons and protons may be fundamentally different
at low to intermediate (less than 50 MV/c) rigidities.
The experimental evidence is from Helios observations of solar energetic
particles, which show that the mean free path of 1.4 MV/c electrons
is often
similar to that of 187 MV/c protons, even though proton mean free paths
continue to decrease comparatively rapidly with decreasing rigidity down to the
lowest channels (about 100 MV/c) observed.
The theoretical evidence is from computations of particle scattering in
dynamical magnetic turbulence, which predict that electrons will have a larger
mean free path than protons of the same rigidity.
In the light of these new results, `consensus' ideas about cosmic-ray mean free
paths may require drastic revision.
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