The investigators will continue theoretical studies and associated computer simulation and modeling of a range of basic solar wind properties and their interactions with cosmic rays, including energetic solar particles. The research will include studies of the structure of the interplanetary magnetic field and plasma, with particular emphasis on the effect of the field's structure on cosmic ray and energetic particle acceleration, propagation and anisotropies. Previous work on the transport and acceleration of cosmic rays in the heliosphere has led to the creation of a large library of software for the modeling of cosmic ray transport and acceleration. This library will be extended and used to obtain full two- and three-dimensional, time-dependent simulations of cosmic ray transport and acceleration. Mechanisms of particle acceleration in interplanetary space, and the effects of energetic particles on the dynamics of the solar wind and its termination will be studied. The investigators will improve two-dimensional models to include the dynamical effects of galactic and anomalous cosmic rays on the global solar wind, and to study time-dependent, transient effects which are expected to be important during the current solar maximum.
