The cosmic-ray flare effect: 3. Deductions regarding the interplanetary magnetic field

Abstract

The observations of cosmic-ray flare effects made at sea level are used to investigate the magnetic fields within the inner solar system. Considering the temporal dependence of intensity, the degree of anisotropy, and the direction in space from which the fluxes were greatest it is concluded that, when a large, active sunspot group is on the far western portion of the solar disk, magnetic lines of force essentially connect the sunspot group to the earth. It is shown that small-scale irregularities exist in these lines of force. The over-all configuration of the magnetic field regime is investigated; the trapping of cosmic rays injected by solar flares and the exclusion of galactic cosmic rays are discussed. The relative merits of two contemporary theoretical models of the interplanetary fields established by solar activity are discussed.