Anomalous Cosmic Rays and Heliospheric Energetic Particles.

We present a review of Anomalous Cosmic Rays (ACRs), including the history of their discovery and recent insights into their acceleration and transport in the heliosphere. We focus on a few selected topics including a discussion of mechanisms of their acceleration, escape from the heliosphere, their effects on the dynamics of the heliosheath, transport in the inner heliosphere, and their solar cycle dependence. A discussion concerning their name is also presented towards the end of the review. We note that much is known about ACRs and perhaps the term Anomalous Cosmic Ray is not particularly descriptive to a non specialist. We suggest that the more-general term: "Heliospheric Energetic Particles", which is more descriptive, for which ACRs and other energetic particle species of heliospheric origin are subsets, might be more appropriate.

The heliosphere's interstellar interaction: no bow shock.

As the Sun moves through the local interstellar medium, its supersonic, ionized solar wind carves out a cavity called the heliosphere. Recent observations from the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft show that the relative motion of the Sun with respect to the interstellar medium is slower and in a somewhat different direction than previously thought. Here, we provide combined consensus values for this velocity vector and show that they have important implications for the global interstellar interaction. In particular, the velocity is almost certainly slower than the fast magnetosonic speed, with no bow shock forming ahead of the heliosphere, as was widely expected in the past.

Comparison of Interstellar Boundary Explorer observations with 3D global heliospheric models.

Simulations of energetic neutral atom (ENA) maps predict flux magnitudes that are, in some cases, similar to those observed by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft, but they miss the ribbon. Our model of the heliosphere indicates that the local interstellar medium (LISM) magnetic field (B(LISM)) is transverse to the line of sight (LOS) along the ribbon, suggesting that the ribbon may carry its imprint. The force-per-unit area on the heliopause from field line draping and the LISM ram pressure is comparable with the ribbon pressure if the LOS approximately 30 to 60 astronomical units and B(LISM) approximately 2.5 microgauss. Although various models have advantages in accounting for some of the observations, no model can explain all the dominant features, which probably requires a substantial change in our understanding of the processes that shape our heliosphere.

Global observations of the interstellar interaction from the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX).

The Sun moves through the local interstellar medium, continuously emitting ionized, supersonic solar wind plasma and carving out a cavity in interstellar space called the heliosphere. The recently launched Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft has completed its first all-sky maps of the interstellar interaction at the edge of the heliosphere by imaging energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) emanating from this region. We found a bright ribbon of ENA emission, unpredicted by prior models or theories, that may be ordered by the local interstellar magnetic field interacting with the heliosphere. This ribbon is superposed on globally distributed flux variations ordered by both the solar wind structure and the direction of motion through the interstellar medium. Our results indicate that the external galactic environment strongly imprints the heliosphere.

Matter, spacetime and the vacuum.

We distinguish three historical and scientific views of matter, spacetime, and the relationship between them: the absolute approach of Newton, the relational approach most often associated with Mach, and a third, geometrical approach which inspired Einstein and continues to drive efforts toward a unified theory of fundamental interactions today. Which is correct? We suggest that this is, to a large extent, an "ill-posed question," reminiscent of the wave/particle debate in earlier times. The boundary between matter and spacetime is no longer easy to draw, and it is likely that they are complementary aspects of the same reality. There is no clearer illustration of this than the modern view of the vacuum. We review the importance of this concept in cosmology, and explore the extent to which the old idea of an "empty" vacuum might still be maintained. If the real cosmological vacuum is far from empty, as observations now suggest, then it may be possible to achieve an even simpler goal: a Universe with a net energy of zero.

Rocket-borne instrumentation using the resonant absorption technique to study the geocoronal and interplanetary helium emissions.

A rocket payload able to perform a thorough and independent analysis of the He I 58.43340-nm geocoronal and interplanetary emissions is presented. It includes a sun-pointed resonant absorption spectrometer and a sky-scanning resonant absorption photometer. Both incorporate a similar helium resonance cell of original design featuring a most flexible pressure scanning capability and an accurate pressure measuring device, so that scanning by wavelength bandpasses from 20 down to 1 pm can be achieved. A description of the design and calibration of the instrument is given, followed by an indication of its successful operation in flight.

Comparison of guinea pig sensitization methods.

Up to now, different methods in guinea pig sensitization were used, to assess contact sensitization potential of low molecular weight chemicals. In order to compare the efficiency of the epicutaneous, intradermal and combined sensitization methods, two stronger sensitizers, the water soluble chlormethylimidazoline hydrochloride (CMI) and the lipid soluble 1,3-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) were used for the experiments. Eleven modified sensitization methods were performed. In a first trial each substance was tested on 10 animals. In a further study those techniques which had produced the best results, that is the highest degree of sensitization, were applied to 25 to 30 animals. For comparison of the results of the various methods, a mean sensitization index was calculated. The best results were achieved with the Maximization Test of Magnusson & Kligman (1969) and the Split Adjuvant Technique of Maguire & Chase (1967).