New study uncovers the behaviour of cosmic rays in the Heliosphere

EU-funded researchers have furthered our understanding of the process that describes the Sun’s influence on cosmic rays. The implications could be revolutionary for high-energy astrophysics and solar science.

First discovered in 1912 by physicist Victor Hess after a high-altitude balloon flight, cosmic rays are constantly bombarding the Earth’s atmosphere, producing showers of secondary particles that even sometimes reach the Earth surface. Cosmic rays are mainly made up of high-energy particles such as protons or electrons. Thanks to detailed and continuous measurements of cosmic rays, researchers can now see that the cosmic-ray flux changes over relatively short timescales.

Further details: New study uncovers the behaviour of cosmic rays in the Heliosphere