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Forging the Future of Space Science The Next 50 Years (2010) / Chapter Skim
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Frank B. McDonald
Pages 126-126

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From page 126...
... expeditions in 1954 and 1955 to study cosmic rays and what was then known as "soft radiation." McDonald opened up the new area of cosmic ray astrophysics -- being first to use a multi-parameter electronic detector system to determine both the atomic number and kinetic energy of individual nuclei of the primary cosmic rays. Over the years, he has made definitive observational and interpretive studies of the energy spectra and elemental as well as isotopic composition of galactic cosmic radiation, the dependence of the intensity of this radiation on solar activity and on distance from the Sun, and of the composition, energy spectra, and propagation of energetic nuclei accelerated at the Sun and by shock waves in the heliosphere.
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