posted on 2020-04-30, 13:16authored byThomas Honig, Olivier G Witasse, Hugh Evans, Petteri Nieminen, Erik Kuulkers, Matt GGT Taylor, Bernd Heber, Jingnan Guo, Beatriz Sanchez-Cano
The radiation data collected by the Standard Radiation
Environment Monitor (SREM) aboard ESA missions INTEGRAL (INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory), Rosetta, Herschel,
Planck and Proba-1, and by the high-energy neutron detector (HEND)
instrument aboard Mars Odyssey, are analysed with an emphasis on
characterising galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) in the inner heliosphere. A
cross calibration between all sensors was performed for this study, which
can also be used in subsequent works. We investigate the stability of the
SREM detectors over long-term periods. The radiation data are compared
qualitatively and quantitatively with the corresponding solar activity.
Based on INTEGRAL and Rosetta SREM data, a GCR helioradial gradient of
2.96 % AU−1 is found between 1 and 4.5 AU. In addition, the data during the
last phase of the Rosetta mission around comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko
were studied in more detail. An unexpected yet unexplained 8 %
reduction of the Galactic Comic Ray flux measured by Rosetta SREM in the
vicinity of the comet is noted.
Funding
Thomas Honig acknowledges the ESA internship programme. Rosetta is an ESA mission with contributions from its member states and NASA. Beatriz Sánchez-Cano acknowledges support through STFC grant ST/S000429/1.