The cosmic-ray path length (age) distribution in the Galaxy - Experimental limits on the deviation from an exponential

1993 ◽  
Vol 402 ◽  
pp. 188 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. Webber
1968 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. S627-S632 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ramaty ◽  
R. E. Lingenfelter

Assuming that cosmic-ray deuterons and helium-3 nuclei are of secondary origin, we show that a unique determination of both the cosmic-ray path-length and the residual interplanetary field modulation at solar minimum may be made from a comparison of the calculated and measured intensities of these two nuclei. This determination does not depend on any assumptions regarding either the source spectra or the unmodulated proton to alpha particle ratio of the primary cosmic rays. The production of deuterium and helium-3 by cosmic-ray interactions in the galaxy is calculated considering energy-dependent cross sections, interaction kinematics, and demodulated cosmic-ray spectra. The resulting flux at the earth is obtained by taking into account leakage from the galaxy, ionization losses, nuclear breakup, and modulation. From a comparison of these calculations with the measured deuterium and helium-3 intensities at the earth, we conclude that within the experimental uncertainties all the data can be understood in terms of an energy-independent cosmic-ray path-length of 4 ± 1 g/cm2 and a residual interplanetary field modulation at solar minimum of the form exp(–η/Pβ) with η = 0.4 ± 0.1 BV, where P and β are the rigidity and velocity.


1991 ◽  
Vol 144 ◽  
pp. 359-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank C. Jones

The dynamical halo of the Galaxy offers a natural explanation for the form of the variation of cosmic-ray path length with energy. The variation above 1 GeV per nucleon can be understood as due to the variation of the diffusion coefficient, and hence the resident time in the galaxy, with energy. The flattening of the curve below 1 GeV per nucleon is seen to mark a transition to a convection dominated regime where the variation of the diffusion coefficient is no longer a determining factor. It is possible that the random motion of the cosmic rays about the galaxy that prevents us from seeing their sources in a clear manner may enable us to extract information about the galaxy at large and learn something about its large scale motions.


1987 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 269 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Garcia-Munoz ◽  
J. A. Simpson ◽  
T. G. Guzik ◽  
J. P. Wefel ◽  
S. H. Margolis

1970 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 168-183
Author(s):  
E. N. Parker

The topic of this presentation is the origin and dynamical behavior of the magnetic field and cosmic-ray gas in the disk of the Galaxy. In the space available I can do no more than mention the ideas that have been developed, with but little explanation and discussion. To make up for this inadequacy I have tried to give a complete list of references in the written text, so that the interested reader can pursue the points in depth (in particular see the review articles Parker, 1968a, 1969a, 1970). My purpose here is twofold, to outline for you the calculations and ideas that have developed thus far, and to indicate the uncertainties that remain. The basic ideas are sound, I think, but, when we come to the details, there are so many theoretical alternatives that need yet to be explored and so much that is not yet made clear by observations.


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