Basics of solar and cosmic radiation and hazards #12

Abstract

There is a wide range of radiation and particles that stream to Earth from the Sun and the universe at large. This hostile array of high-energy ionic particles and electromagnetic radiation impacts Earth on a constant basis. The exact nature of this bombardment can be confusing to understand. This is because the blanket term of “cosmic radiation” includes not only intense and high-energy electromagnetic radiation in the form of gamma and X-rays but also ionic particles and nuclei accelerated to speeds even nearing the speed of light. This radiation when it hits Earth’s atmosphere generates a number of different particles including positrons (or antimatter) as well as high-energy photons. This chapter seeks to provide some basic information and definitions related to solar and cosmic “radiation” and to explain that both high-energy X-rays and gamma (γ) rays as well as ionic particles are included in the general and generic phrase “cosmic radiation.