Are Anomalous Cosmic Rays the Main Contribution to the Low-Energy Galactic Cosmic Ray Spectrum?

2008 ◽  
Vol 680 (2) ◽  
pp. L105-L108 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Scherer ◽  
H. Fichtner ◽  
S. E. S. Ferreira ◽  
I. Büsching ◽  
M. S. Potgieter
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Anomalous Cosmic Rays ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Ray

scholarly journals Low Energy Cosmic Rays Emitted by the Orion Complex into the Local Medium

1997 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 187-190
Author(s):  
V. Schönfelder ◽  
V.A. Dogiel ◽  
M.J. Freyberg ◽  
G.E. Morfill
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Energy Range ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Powerful Source ◽  
Energy Deposit ◽  
Bremsstrahlung Emission ◽  
Local Medium ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Ray

AbstractThe excess of γ-ray emission in the energy range 3–7 MeV discovered by COMPTEL in the direction of the Orion complex may imply that there is a powerful source of low energy cosmic rays in the local galactic medium. Several interpretations of the excess have been suggested. One of them assumes that the emission is identified with nuclear de-excitation lines of excited 16O and 14C. To provide the excess the energy deposit in these nuclei should be as large as ~ 1039 erg s−1. If a comparable part of these nuclei escape into the local galactic medium they can play a significant role in the energy balance there.If the excess is interpreted as continuous it can be produced by bremsstrahlung emission of fast 10 MeV electrons. Much less energy deposit in these electrons is necessary (~ 1036 erg s−1) to generate the observed Orion flux. The intensity of these electrons even near Earth can be higher than that of the galactic cosmic ray electrons.

The results of simultaneous measurements of the cosmic-ray intensity over the Antarctic and Arctic

1968 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. S823-S824
Author(s):  
S. N. Vernov ◽  
A. N. Charakhchyan ◽  
T. N. Charakhchyan ◽  
Yu. J. Stozhkov
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Temperature Effects ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Primary Component ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Cosmic Ray Intensity ◽  
Simultaneous Measurements ◽  
Murmansk Region ◽  
The Antarctic

The results of the analysis of data obtained from measurements carried out by means of regular stratospheric launchings of cosmic-ray radiosondes over the Murmansk region and the Antarctic observatory in Mirny in 1963–66 are presented. The problem of the anisotropy of the primary component of low-energy cosmic rays and of temperature effects on the cosmic-ray intensity in the atmosphere are discussed.

scholarly journals Particle Acceleration by Supernova Shocks and Spallogenic Nucleosynthesis of Light Elements

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 377-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Tatischeff ◽  
Stefano Gabici
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Light Element ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Nuclear Interaction ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
Light Elements ◽  
Halo Stars ◽  
The Standard Model ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Ray

In this review, we first reassess the supernova remnant paradigm for the origin of Galactic cosmic rays in the light of recent cosmic-ray data acquired by the Voyager 1 spacecraft. We then describe the theory of light-element nucleosynthesis by nuclear interaction of cosmic rays with the interstellar medium and outline the problem of explaining the measured beryllium abundances in old halo stars of low metallicity with the standard model of the Galactic cosmic-ray origin. We then discuss the various cosmic-ray models proposed in the literature to account for the measured evolution of the light elements in the Milky Way, and point out the difficulties that they all encounter. It seems to us that, among all possibilities, the superbubble model provides the most satisfactory explanation for these observations.

Cosmic Rays and the Sun's Magnetic Field: Apparent Absence of Low-energy Cosmic-ray Primaries

Nature ◽  
1952 ◽  
Vol 170 (4315) ◽  
pp. 62-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. VAN ALLEN ◽  
S. F. SINGER
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Apparent Absence

scholarly journals The Galactic cosmic ray intensity at the evolving Earth and young exoplanets

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna Rodgers-Lee ◽  
Aline Vidotto ◽  
Andrew Taylor ◽  
Paul Rimmer ◽  
Turlough Downes
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Cosmic Ray Intensity ◽  
Chemical Signature ◽  
Exoplanetary Systems ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Ray

<p>Cosmic rays may have contributed to the start of life on Earth. Cosmic rays also influence and contribute to atmospheric electrical circuits, cloud cover and biological mutation rates which are important for the characterisation of exoplanetary systems. The flux of Galactic cosmic rays present at the time when life is thought to have begun on the young Earth or in other young exoplanetary systems is largely determined by the properties of the stellar wind. </p> <p>The spectrum of Galactic cosmic rays that we observe at Earth is modulated, or suppressed, by the magnetised solar wind and thus differs from the local interstellar spectrum observed by Voyager 1 and 2 outside of the solar system. Upon reaching 1au, Galactic cosmic rays subsequently interact with the Earth’s magnetosphere and some of their energy is deposited in the upper atmosphere. The properties of the solar wind, such as the magnetic field strength and velocity profile, evolve with time. Generally, young solar-type stars are very magnetically active and are therefore thought to drive stronger stellar winds. </p> <p>Here I will present our recent results which simulate the propagation of Galactic cosmic rays through the heliosphere to the location of Earth as a function of the Sun's life, from 600 Myr to 6 Gyr, in the Sun’s future. I will specifically focus on the flux of Galactic cosmic rays present at the time when life is thought to have started on Earth (~1 Gyr). I will show that the intensity of Galactic cosmic rays which reached the young Earth, by interacting with the solar wind, would have been greatly reduced in comparison to the present day intensity. I will also discuss the effect that the Sun being a slow/fast rotator would have had on the flux of cosmic rays reaching Earth at early times in the solar system's life.</p> <p>Despite the importance of Galactic cosmic rays, their chemical signature in the atmospheres’ of young Earth-like exoplanets may not be observable with instruments in the near future. On the other hand, it may instead be possible to detect their chemical signature by observing young warm Jupiters. Thus, I will also discuss the HR 2562b exoplanetary system as a candidate for observing the chemical signature of Galactic cosmic rays in a young exoplanetary atmosphere with upcoming missions such as JWST.</p>

Galactic cosmic ray induced ionisation on Venus and its effect on cloud droplet stability

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Airey ◽  
Giles Harrison ◽  
Karen Aplin ◽  
Christian Pfrang
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Evaporation Rate ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Ccd Camera ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cloud Droplets ◽  
Droplet Stability ◽  
Ion Production ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Ray

<p>Galactic cosmic rays are ubiquitous in solar system atmospheres. On Venus, the altitude of peak ion production due to cosmic rays (the Pfotzer-Regener maximum) occurs at ~63 km, within the optically thick region of the upper clouds. This indicates the possibility of electrical effects on droplets within Venusian clouds. Motivated by this, our VENI (Venusian Electricity, Nephology, and Ionisation) project explores effects of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) induced ionisation on cloud droplets in circumstances with relevance to Venus’ atmosphere. Charge is known to lower the critical supersaturation required for cloud droplets to form; slightly larger droplets are stable at lower saturation ratios if sufficiently charged. Condensation of gas directly onto ions is also potentially possible on Venus if the atmosphere is sufficiently supersaturated. GCRs and the secondary charged particles they produce are therefore anticipated to affect cloud droplet behaviour on Venus.</p><p>Experiments have been conducted using electrically isolated droplets, through levitation in a standing acoustic wave. The droplets are monitored with a high-magnification CCD camera to determine their evaporation rate and charge. The charge is measured both by the deflection in an electric field and by passing the droplet through a custom-built induction ring. A relationship between the evaporation rate and charge of the droplets is found to be consistent with theory, allowing droplet lifetime to be predicted for a given charge. Further experiments using sulphuric acid droplets in a carbon dioxide environment offer more direct relevance to the Venusian environment and cosmic ray enhancement due to solar energetic particles (SEPs) in space weather events will be simulated using a corona source.</p>

Modulation of low-energy galactic cosmic-ray hydrogen and helium

1964 ◽  
Vol 69 (15) ◽  
pp. 3293-3295 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Fichtel ◽  
D. E. Guss ◽  
D. A. Kniffen ◽  
K. A. Neelakantan
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Ray

scholarly journals Production of atomic hydrogen by cosmic rays in dark clouds

2018 ◽  
Vol 619 ◽  
pp. A144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Padovani ◽  
Daniele Galli ◽  
Alexei V. Ivlev ◽  
Paola Caselli ◽  
Andrea Ferrara
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Atomic Hydrogen ◽  
Molecular Hydrogen ◽  
Molecular Clouds ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
Dissociation Rate ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Hydrogen Atoms ◽  
Dark Clouds

Context. Small amounts of atomic hydrogen, detected as absorption dips in the 21 cm line spectrum, are a well-known characteristic of dark clouds. The abundance of hydrogen atoms measured in the densest regions of molecular clouds can only be explained by the dissociation of H2 by cosmic rays. Aims. We wish to assess the role of Galactic cosmic rays in the formation of atomic hydrogen, for which we use recent developments in the characterisation of the low-energy spectra of cosmic rays and advances in the modelling of their propagation in molecular clouds. Methods. We modelled the attenuation of the interstellar cosmic rays that enter a cloud and computed the dissociation rate of molecular hydrogen that is due to collisions with cosmic-ray protons and electrons as well as fast hydrogen atoms. We compared our results with the available observations. Results. The cosmic-ray dissociation rate is entirely determined by secondary electrons produced in primary ionisation collisions. These secondary particles constitute the only source of atomic hydrogen at column densities above ~1021 cm−2. We also find that the dissociation rate decreases with column density, while the ratio between the dissociation and ionisation rates varies between about 0.6 and 0.7. From comparison with observations, we conclude that a relatively flat spectrum of interstellar cosmic-ray protons, such as suggested by the most recent Voyager 1 data, can only provide a lower bound for the observed atomic hydrogen fraction. An enhanced spectrum of low-energy protons is needed to explain most of the observations. Conclusions. Our findings show that a careful description of molecular hydrogen dissociation by cosmic rays can explain the abundance of atomic hydrogen in dark clouds. An accurate characterisation of this process at high densities is crucial for understanding the chemical evolution of star-forming regions.

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