As I understand them, Cosmic rays mainly consist of high energy charged particles. I began to wonder if they would eventually net charge the Earth and then assumed that they must come in roughly equal amounts of charge. If they don't I suppose the charged Earth would deflect like charge particles and attract the opposite until it is neutral once more. Any thoughts on the matter would be interesting to hear.
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As I understand them, Cosmic rays mainly consist of high energy charged particles.
Yes, roughly 90% of all cosmic rays (CRs) are protons, another 9% are alpha particles and the remaining 1% are electrons, positrons, and heavy nuclei. Most of these are in the 1-10 GeV range, dropping off at $N(E)\sim E^{-2}$ from thereon out (this Physics.SE post shows the common CR spectra).
I began to wonder if they would eventually net charge the Earth ... If they don't I suppose the charged Earth would deflect like charge particles and attract the opposite until it is neutral once more
If an over-abundance of positively charged CRs developed, they would start deflecting the same positively charged CRs & attracting the negatively charged CRs; similarly the other way around. Thus, our planet & atmosphere remains roughly quasi-neutral (though, as seen in this Physics.SE post, there is a 500 kC charge on the surface).
The charge however, is related more to the internal processes and the solar wind than galactic/extra-galactic CRs accumulation. For this aspect of earth's charge, see this Physics.SE post. At energies less than ~ 10 GeV, the solar wind will actually be able to deflect the CRs away from earth (hence the slight down-tick on the CR spectrum linked in the top paragraph). At higher energies, the solar wind cannot do this, but the particles come more infrequently (ranging between 1 particle per square-meter per second down near 100 GeV to 1 particle per square-kilometer per century around $10^{21}\,\rm eV$) so the fewer particles would not really affect the electric field.
... then assumed that they must come in roughly equal amounts of charge.
Not at all. As I stated above, the vast majority are single protons and only a small fraction are electrons. As an aside, the electron-positron anisotropy is a somewhat hot topic in CR Astrophysics (cf. this ADS search of electron positron anisotropy).
We believe that the bulk of galactic CRs are produced in galactic supernova remnants (see also this post of mine for CR protons producing neutrinos). Models produced by the leaders of the field (e.g., Ellison et al and Jones & Kang) show that the ratio $N_p/N_{e^-}\sim10^{-4}$ exist at the sources before diffusing out into the galaxy, matching what is found in the observatories (as it should, assuming a steady-state production of CRs).
answered Jul 13, 2015 at 2:27
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$\begingroup$ The net charge of the earth is still zero. The electric field of the earth is not likely related to cosmic rays, but instead internal processes relating to the atmosphere or geology. A charge imbalance in high-energy particles does not imply a charge imbalance in space overall, it just means that the electrons are on average less energetic… which tells us little, since they have so little mass. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 2:46
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1$\begingroup$ @Blackbody: The net charge on earth's surface (as stated here & in the linked PSE post) is -500 kC, the is net charge when including the atmosphere makes it quasi-neutral (not discussed here, but in the linked PSE article). If the electrons are not energetic, then they are, by definition, not cosmic rays. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 2:50
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$\begingroup$ And if you look at papers by Ellison et al or Jones & Kang on CRs + SNR co-evolution, the $p/e^-$ ratio is very small $\sim10^{-4}$ due to a variety of reasons, including the injection & energy loss differences. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 2:52
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$\begingroup$ Yes, so this answer is misleading. Earth is neutrally charged from the perspective of space. Space (interstellar/intergalactic medium) is also neutrally charged. A good answer would address whether CRs are majority charge carriers in the Earth environment (cf. solar wind), and what processes limit the total charge (absorbing electrons? emitting protons? from the radiation belts or from the poles?). $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 3:34
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$\begingroup$ @Blackbody: I don't discuss those b/c (a) OP wanted to know if CRs could charge earth, or if it would balance itself out (b) I linked to a question that actually covers some of those "missing details" (also covered in another question linked to in the link I gave). I've updated the answer to point out the lack of CRs in the charge (and including some of the points I made here in the comments). $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 4:02
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The net charge of earth due to incoming CR particles may not be static and may vary over periods of time. Earth may have a semi-stable ferromagnetic core and transient peaks of positive or negative absolute-earth-charge may inductively contribute to earth’s magnetic pole reversal. Assuming CR particles with directed energy, if earth is bathed in positively charged CR particles the earth should take on a positive charge or a negative charge for the opposite scenario. Significant static-attraction or static-repulsion of CR particles due to earth’s accumulated charge may only occur at the extremes of Earth’s transient potentials (magnitude of potential extremes would then depend on the typical velocity and mass-to-charge ratio of the particles). Periods of the transient extremes may be similar to the periods of Earth magnetic pole reversals.
