Short and Long Term Variations of the Anomalous Component

Abstract

We have used data from the cosmic ray experiment (CRS) on Voyagers 1 and 2 to examine anomalous 0 and He in the time period from launch in 1977 to mid-1982. We find several time periods where large periodic (typically 26 day) temporal variations of 0 between - 5 -15 Me V /nuc are present, with variations in intensity by up to a factor of 10. On the longer term, there is a sharp drop in the anomalous 0 intensity relative to the galactic co.smic ray components near the middle of 1980. After the decrease we still find evidence at - 10 AU for the presence of anomalous 0 and He near the time of maximum modulation. Data from a larger fraction of the solar cycle will be required before it can be determined whether the intensity of the anomalous component is lower in the Second half of the cycle (after the solar field reversal) than in the first half.

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