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The generation of cosmic ray particles with ultra‐relativistic energies is a crucial issue in astrophysical and space physics. Shocks have been acknowledged as efficient accelerators in the universe which can produce energetic particles through a variety of mechanisms, such as diffusive shock acceleration (DSA), shock surfing acceleration (SSA) and shock drift acceleration (SDA). Using the data set obtained by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, we report an unusually sharp enhancement of energetic electron flux in the upstream region of Earth's bow shock, associated with a bipolar variation of the interplanetary magnetic field. To explain these observations, we propose a two‐step acceleration scenario where electrons trapped in a flux rope (FR) first undergo head‐on collisions and are further accelerated by FR contraction as the FR crosses the shock. Such a scenario can well explain the spacecraft observations. This work can improve our understanding of particle acceleration processes at shocks. Plain Language Summary The cosmic ray comprises ions and electrons with energies up to 1,020 eV and thus its generation mechanism is an important issue. A conventional theory known as diffusive shock acceleration is a promising candidate but it needs seed electrons with sufficient initial energies. How these electrons are generated is still unclear. In this study, we report an unusually sharp enhancement of energetic electron flux with a large variation of magnetic field direction in the upstream region of Earth's bow shock, and propose a two‐step acceleration scenario to explain the spacecraft measurements. Electrons first gain energies from the head‐on collisions with the bow shock, and then bounce between the two ends of a circular magnetic field of shrinkage, analogous to a ball reflecting between two converging walls. This scenario has been mathematically confirmed and shows good agreement with the spacecraft measurements. Key Points Efficient electron acceleration is observed when a flux rope collides with the Earth's bow shock Electrons trapped in the flux rope are successively accelerated by the head‐on reflection at shock front and the flux rope contraction This two‐step acceleration scenario is mathematically reproduced and fit the spacecraft observations well

The origin and nature of extreme energy cosmic rays (EECRs), which have energies above the 5 ⋅ 10 19 eV —the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) energy limit, is one of the most interesting and complicated problems in modern cosmic-ray physics. Existing ground-based detectors have helped to obtain remarkable results in studying cosmic rays before and after the GZK limit, but have also produced some contradictions in our understanding of cosmic ray mass composition. Moreover, each of these detectors covers only a part of the celestial sphere, which poses problems for studying the arrival directions of EECRs and identifying their sources. As a new generation of EECR space detectors, TUS (Tracking Ultraviolet Set-up), KLYPVE and JEM-EUSO, are intended to study the most energetic cosmic-ray particles, providing larger, uniform exposures of the entire celestial sphere. The TUS detector, launched on board the Lomonosov satellite on April 28, 2016 from Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia, is the first of these. It employs a single-mirror optical system and a photomultiplier tube matrix as a photo-detector and will test the fluorescent method of measuring EECRs from space. Utilizing the Earth’s atmosphere as a huge calorimeter, it is expected to detect EECRs with energies above 10 20 eV . It will also be able to register slower atmospheric transient events: atmospheric fluorescence in electrical discharges of various types including precipitating electrons escaping the magnetosphere and from the radiation of meteors passing through the atmosphere. We describe the design of the TUS detector and present results of different ground-based tests and simulations.

We present the first full‐wavelength numerical simulations of the electric field generated by cosmic ray impacts into the Moon. Billions of cosmic rays fall onto the Moon every year. Ultra‐high energy cosmic ray impacts produce secondary particle cascades within the regolith and subsequent coherent, wide‐bandwidth, linearly‐polarized radio pulses by the Askaryan Effect. Observations of the cosmic ray particle shower radio emissions can reveal subsurface structure on the Moon and enable the broad and deep prospecting necessary to confirm or refute the existence of polar ice deposits. Our simulations show that the radio emissions and reflections could reveal ice layers as thin as 10 cm and buried under regolith as deep as 9 m. The Askaryan Effect presents a novel and untapped opportunity for characterizing buried lunar ice at unprecedented depths and spatial scales. Plain Language Summary Particles traveling at extreme speeds, or cosmic rays, impact the Moon so fast that they cause particle cascades that exceed the phase velocity of light (the speed at which a specific point on a light wave travels) in the lunar soil. In a process analogous to a sonic boom, they generate cones of electromagnetic shock waves, the radio emission of which is called the Askaryan Effect. The Askaryan phenomenon produces uniquely identifiable radio waves and retains information about subsurface layers the way radar or sonar sounding would. Unlike radar, which requires high‐power antennas to emit radio signals, sensors listening for the Askaryan Effect hear echoes from naturally occurring cosmic ray impacts, drastically lowering the cost and complexity of these detectors. Here, we show for the first time that the Askayan Effect would produce observable signals from buried ice layers at the lunar poles, providing a novel and untapped method of probing for buried water ice deposits on the Moon. Key Points Ultra‐high energy cosmic ray impacts into the Moon generate radio pulses by the Askaryan Effect Radio emissions generated by the Askaryan Effect can reveal subsurface structure on the Moon Cosmic ray particle shower‐generated radio emissions could enable broad and deep prospecting for subsurface ice

Two long-lasting thunderstorm ground enhancement (TGE) events were registered at the Milešovka meteorological observatory in Czechia (50.55∘ N, 13.93∘ E; 837 m altitude) on 23 April 2018, during linearly organized thunderstorms. Two intervals of increased photon counts were detected by a plastic scintillator, respectively lasting 70 and 25 min and reaching 31 % and 48 % above the background radiation levels. Using numerical simulations, we verified that the observed increases in count rates are consistent with the energy spectrum of previously observed TGEs. We investigated the relevant data from a suite of meteorological instruments, a Ka-band cloud radar, an electric field mill, and a broadband electromagnetic receiver, all placed at the Milešovka observatory, in order to analyse the context in which these unique continental TGEs occurred at an exceptionally low altitude. The onset of the TGEs preceded the onset of precipitation by 10 and 3 min, respectively, for the two events. Both this delayed rain arrival and an energy threshold of 6.5 MeV for registered particles clearly exclude the detection the decay products of the radon progeny washout during the TGE intervals. At the same time, the European lightning detection network EUCLID detected numerous predominantly negative intracloud lightning discharges at distances closer than 5 km from the particle detector, while the occurrence of cloud-to-ground discharges was suppressed. The cloud radar recorded presence of graupel below the melting level, and the composition of hydrometeors suggested good conditions for cloud electrification. The observed variations in the near-surface electric field were unusual, with very brief negative-electric-field excursions reaching −20 kV in a quick succession. At the same time, sub-microsecond unipolar pulses emitted by close corona discharges saturated the broadband magnetic loop antenna. All these measurements indicate that a strong lower positive-charge region was present inside the thundercloud. The bottom thundercloud dipole was probably responsible for acceleration of the seed electrons in the air. These seed electrons might originate in the secondary cosmic ray particles but could also come from a high concentration of radon in the air collected during the propagation of the convective system above the uranium-rich soils before the thunderstorms overpassed the Milešovka observatory.

In this work an improved approach of existing approximations on the coupling function between primary and ground-level cosmic-ray particles is presented. The proposed coupling function is analytically derived based on a formalism used in Quantum Field Theory calculations. It is upgraded compared to previous versions with the inclusion of a wider energy spectrum that is extended to lower energies, as well as an altitude correction factor, also derived analytically. The improved approximations are applied to two cases of Forbush decreases detected in March 2012 and September 2017. In the analytical procedure for the derivation of the primary cosmic-ray spectrum during these events, we also consider the energy spectrum exponent γ to be varied with time. For the validation of the findings, we present a direct comparison between the primary spectrum and the amplitude values derived by the proposed method and the obtained time series of the cosmic-ray intensity at the rigidity of 10 GV obtained from the Global Survey Method. The two sets of results are found to be in very good agreement for both events as denoted by the Pearson correlation factors and slope values of their scatter plots. In such way we determine the validity and applicability of our method to Forbush decreases as well as to other cosmic-ray phenomena, thus introducing a new, alternative way of inferring the primary cosmic-ray intensity.

The behaviour of the Rieger periodicity at 152 – 156 days in O and Fe galactic cosmic ray (GCR) particles, at different energies as observed by the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) satellite, has been studied. Energetic particle data between 2000 and 2019 have been analysed using the Lomb-Scargle periodogram and Morlet wavelet spectral analysis techniques. Daily mean energetic particle measurements are used to identify how the Rieger periodicity varies in each individual year as a function of the mean particle energy. In particular, spectral analysis of galactic cosmic particle data at different energies revealed that the Rieger period occurs exceptionally strong during Solar Cycle 23 when A < 0 (solar dipole pointing south) compared to Cycle 24 when A > 0 (solar dipole pointing north). This article reports for the first time the time-dependence of the Rieger (152 – 156 days) periodicity in O and Fe GCR particles at various energies ranging from ≈ 70 MeV/n to ≈ 471 MeV/n.

An analysis has been made of the behaviour of the 27-day and 13.5-day periodicities in proton, C, and O galactic-cosmic-ray (GCR) particles at different energies as observed by the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) and SOHO ( Solar and Heliospheric Observatory ) spacecraft during both Solar Cycles 23 and 24. In addition, the behaviour of the 27-day and 13.5-day periods in the solar-wind-modulation parameter ζ  = B IMF  × V SW has been investigated during the same time interval to determine the existence of a possible solar-polarity dependence. Ground-based neutron-monitor (NM) observations, corresponding to different rigidity cutoff [R C ] parameters, were also studied to determine the temporal behaviour of both the 27-day and 13.5-day periods during Cycles 23 and 24, revealing a statistically significant solar-polarity correlation. The Lomb–Scargle periodogram technique has been employed to extract spectral information from the above-mentioned observations for each individual year from 2001 – 2009 (Cycle 23) and 2010 – 2019 (Cycle 24). Daily mean energetic ACE and SOHO particle measurements are used to identify how both the 27-day and 13.5-day periodicities vary during each individual year during these cycles as a function of particle mean energy. This spectral analysis of proton, C, and O galactic-cosmic-particle data at different energies revealed that both the 27-day and 13.5-day periods are stronger during the minimum of Solar Cycle 24/25 when A > 0 (solar dipole pointing North) in comparison to the minimum of Cycle 23/24 when A < 0 (solar dipole pointing South) at certain energy levels. This showed a particularly strong energy-dependent behaviour for both periodicities. This article reports for the first time an annual time- and energy-dependent behaviour of both the 27-day and 13.5-day periodicities in daily-mean galactic cosmic particles observed by spacecraft and ground-based neutron monitors during consecutive Solar Cycles 23 and 24, corresponding to opposite solar-magnetic-field orientations. Periodicity behaviour in heliospheric solar-wind data corroborate these results in general.

Cherenkov radiation is a widely used detection mechanism in high-energy and astroparticle physics experiments, particularly in water-based detectors operated by leading cosmic-ray observatories. Its popularity stems from its robustness, cost-effectiveness, and high detection efficiency across a broad range of environmental conditions. In this study, we present a detailed Monte Carlo characterization of a Water Cherenkov Detector (WCD) using the Geant4 simulation toolkit as a general, experiment-independent reference for understanding detector responses to secondary cosmic-ray particles. The detector is modeled to register secondary particles produced by the interaction of high-energy cosmic-ray primaries with the Earth’s atmosphere, which give rise to extensive air showers composed of hadronic, electromagnetic, and muonic components capable of reaching ground level. By simulating the differential energy spectra and angular distributions of these particles at the surface, we evaluate the WCD response in terms of energy deposition, Cherenkov photon production, photoelectron generation at the photomultiplier tube, and the resulting charge spectra. The results establish a systematic and transferable baseline for detector performance characterization and particle identification, providing a physically grounded reference that can support calibration, trigger optimization, and analysis efforts across different WCD-based experiments.

Today, dozens are evident, and their basic building blocks are codified in the standard model of particle physics. In 1949, he joined the Radiation Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, where he used an innovative accelerator to study another cosmic-ray particle, the pion. In 1989, ALEPH helped to demonstrate that there can be no more than three types of neutrino - the electron and the muon neutrinos, and a third associated with the tau particle, another 'heavy electron' discovered in 1975.