Origin of cosmic rays

Cosmic rays were discovered in 1911 but it is only now that some ideas are beginning to emerge as to their origin. This paper will examine the present evidence concerning the origin question over the whole energy range, from 10⁹ eV to 10²⁰ eV. At the lowest energies, (10⁹–10¹⁰ eV), the new subject of gamma ray astronomy plays a crucial role and a galactic origin is favoured. At higher energies (10¹²–10¹⁷ eV) recent measurements of the anisotropies in arrival directions also suggest a galactic origin, although the evidence is not as strong. At the very highest energies it seems likely that some, at least, of the particles come from outside the galaxy although the non-existence of the cut-off at about 6 × 10¹⁹ eV arising from interactions with the cosmological relict radiation provides a paradox. The likely future areas of advance in this fascinating subject will be indicated. Based on the B. B. Roy memorial lectures delivered at Calcutta University, February 1–3, 1978.     

Implications on the origin of cosmic rays in light of 10 TV spectral softenings

Precise measurements of the energy spectra of cosmic rays(CRs)show various kinds of features deviating from single power-laws,which give very interesting and important implications on their origin and propagation.Previous measurements from a few balloon and space experiments indicate the existence of spectral softenings around 10 TV for protons(and probably also for Helium nuclei).Very recently,the DArk Matter Particle Explorer(DAMPE)measurement about the proton spectrum clearly reveals such a softening with a high significance.Here we study the implications of these new measurements,as well as the groundbased indirect measurements,on the origin of CRs.We find that a single component of CRs fails to fit the spectral softening and the air shower experiment data simultaneously.In the framework of multiple components,we discuss two possible scenarios,the multiple source population scenario and the background plus nearby source scenario.Both scenarios give reasonable fits to the wide-band data from TeV to 100 PeV energies.Considering the anisotropy observations,the nearby source model is favored.     

Ultra-high energy cosmic rays and prompt TeV gamma rays from gamma ray bursts

Gamma ray bursts (GRBs) have been proposed as one possible class of sources of the ultrahigh energy cosmic ray (UHECR) events observed up to energies ≳ 10²⁰ eV. The synchrotron radiation of the highest energy protons accelerated within the GRB source should produce gamma rays up to TeV energies. Here we briefly discuss the implications on the energetics of the GRB from the point of view of the detectability of the prompt TeV γ-rays of proton-synchrotron origin in GRBs in the up-coming ICECUBE muon detector in the south pole.     

利用ICCD定位宇宙线来测量探测器时间分辨的方法研究

本研究采用双层150 mm×150 mm闪烁条阵列定位宇宙线的入射和出射位置. 阵列信号光使用波移光纤吸收传输,在ICCD相机前插入前置像增强器,使信号光延迟大于200 ns, 使ICCD可以由外部高速触发信号控制,有效记录随机触发事例.该宇宙线定位系统可以同时多点密集测量 通用探测器测试平台的时间分辨和闪烁光的渡越时间.该新方法与传统时间分辨测量方法相比提高了30倍以上 的效率.实验结果显示:时间探测器的时间分辨好于200 ps,满足通用探测器测试平台的设计要求.     

Recent observations of anomalous cosmic rays made with solid track detectors

A few exposures of CN-85 detectors on Earth-orbiting satellites in the period 1993–1994 show evidence for the reappearance of the radiation belt from geomagnetically trapped anomalous cosmic ray ions.     

Investigation of cosmic rays and their secondaries at aircraft altitudes

A very extensive study of the radiation field at aircraft altitudes has been carried out over the last few years. These investigations formed part of a European wide collaboration involving several laboratories with extensive experience in cosmic ray research and/or dosimetry. Among the main topics investigated were the charge spectra, LET spectra, anisotropy and dose values. The measurements were performed on subsonic and supersonic flights covering a wide range of altitudes and latitudes. Several active and passive instruments were employed in these studies and some results obtained with nuclear track detectors are described here. Comparisons are made with the results of other experiments and theoretical estimates using computer codes.     

Ionization states of cosmic rays:Anuradha (IONS) experiment in Spacelab-3

The measurements of the ionization states, composition, energy spectra and spatial distribution of heavy ions of helium to iron of energies 10–100 MeV/amu in the anomalous cosmic rays are of major importance in understanding their origin which is unknown at present.Anuradha (IONS) cosmic ray experiment in Spacelab-3 was designed to determine the above properties in near earth space and this had a highly successful flight and operations aboard the shuttle Challenger at an orbital altitude of 352 km during 29 April to 6 May 1985. The instrument employs solid state nuclear track detectors (CR-39) of high sensitivity and large collecting area of about 800 cm² and determines the arrival time information of particles with active elements. Experimental methods, flight operations and preliminary results are briefly described. Initial results indicate that relatively high fluxes of low energy cosmic ray α-particles, oxygen group and heavier ions were obtained. The flight period corresponded to that of quiet Sun and the level of solar activity was close to solar minimum. It is estimated that about 10,000 events of low energy cosmic ray alpha particles with time annotation are recorded in the detector together with similar number of events of oxygen and heavier ions of low energy cosmic rays. The authors felicitate Prof. D S Kothari on his eightieth birthday and dedicate this paper to him on this occasion.     

Significance of the second dip in the ultra-high energy cosmic ray spectrum

A new feature in the spectrum of ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) has been announced in the paper by Berezinsky, Gazizov and Kachelrieβ. The ratio of the solution of the exact transport equation to its solution in the continuous energy loss limit shows intriguing features which, according to the Authors, are related to the very nature of the energy loss processes of UHECR: the very sharp second dip predicted at 6.3 × 10¹⁹ eV can be used as an energy calibration point and also as the UHECR mass indicator for big future cosmic ray experiments. In the present paper we would like to advocate that this statement is an overinterpretation. The second dip is a result of an inappropriate approximation used, and thus it cannot help to understand the nature of UHECR in any way.      

Studies of anomalous cosmic ray N, O, and Ne using Cn track detectors

We report measurements of the energy spectra of anomalous cosmic ray N, O and Ne in the energy interval 5–25 MeV/nucleon made with stacks of cellulose nitrate sheets exposed on “Cosmos” satellites in Earth's vicinity in 1994. The successive etching was applied for the best charge identification.     

Spatial dependent diffusion of cosmic rays and the excess of primary electrons derived from high precision measurements by AMS-02

The precise spectra of Cosmic Ray(CR) electrons and positrons have been published by the measurement of AMS-02. It is reasonable to regard the difference between the electron and positron spectra(?Φ = Φ_(e-)-Φ_(e+)) as being dominated by primary electrons. The resulting electron spectrum shows no sign of spectral softening above 20 GeV, which is in contrast with the prediction of the standard model of CR propagation. In this work, we generalize the analytic one-dimensional two-halo model of diffusion to a three-dimensional realistic calculation by implementing spatial variant diffusion coefficients in the DRAGON package. As a result, we can reproduce the spectral hardening of protons observed by several experiments, and predict an excess of high energy primary electrons which agrees with the measurement reasonably well. Unlike the break spectrum obtained for protons, the model calculation predicts a smooth electron excess and thus slightly over-predicts the flux from tens of GeV to 100 GeV. To understand this issue, further experimental and theoretical studies are necessary.     

Anomalous cosmic ray carbon and oxygen tracks in CN-Kodak

For observation of low energy cosmic ray particles we used CN-Kodak nuclear track detectors on Cosmos satellites. In solar quiet periods during solar minima conditions the detectors registered anomalous cosmic rays (ACRs). The ACRs are characterized by flux enhancements of several elements and it is known that the carbon enhancement is small compared with that of oxygen. In all of our quiet-time exposures the relation between carbon and oxygen was extremely small (C/O 0.03). But in two quiet-time periods of 14.03.96–11.06.96 and of 15.12.97–14.04.98 we have identified many tracks as carbon in a L–R diagram. As a result the observed C/O ratio appears to be more than 0.5, whereas other experiments show no evidence of enhanced flux of carbon during these periods. The reason for the unexpected response of CN-Kodak is discussed.     

Characteristics of the energy spectra of cosmic rays and a single source model

As the accuracy of measuring the energy spectra of different nuclei in the primary cosmic ray flux and their ratios grows, more evidence appears for the nonpower character of these spectra at energies below the knee at 3–4 PeV. Irregularities in the spectra are the natural consequence of the nonuniformity of the cosmic ray source distributions: their types, ages and distances to the Earth; the nonuniformity of the interstellar medium; and the different densities, temperatures, and natures of magnetic fields. In particular, the flattening of the proton and helium energy spectra, the growth of the fraction of positrons in the total flux of positrons and electrons, and the constancy of the ratio of antiprotons to protons at sub-PeV energies could be due to the contribution from nearby and young sources emitting harder energy spectra of particles. It is shown that the recent measurements of the ratio of the boron and carbon nuclei performed in the AMS-02 experiment could also indicate that there is a contribution from a single comparatively young and nearby source.     

近地雷暴电场与羊八井地面宇宙线关联的模拟研究

雷暴期间地面宇宙线强度变化的研究对理解大气电场加速宇宙线次级带电粒子的物理机理具有重要意义. 分析西藏羊八井ARGO实验中2012年大气电场的数据后发现, 近地雷暴电场的强度可达1000 V/cm甚至更高. 用Monte Carlo方法模拟研究了近地雷暴电场与羊八井地面宇宙线强度的关联. 当雷暴电场强度(取1500 V/cm)大于逃逸电场时, 宇宙线次级粒子中正、负电子的数目呈指数增长, 在大气深度约520 g/cm²处达到极大值, 与Gurevich等提出的相对论电子逃逸雪崩机理和Dwyer理论相符. 当雷暴电场强度小于逃逸电场时, 在所有负电场范围和大于600 V/cm的正电场范围, 总电子数目随电场强度的增大而增加; 当正电场小于400 V/cm时, 总电子数目均出现一定幅度的下降; 在电场为400–600 V/cm范围内, 总电子数目的变化与原初粒子的能量有关, 原初能量小于80 GeV时, 其次级粒子中总电子数目增加, 原初能量在80–120 GeV 范围内时, 总电子数目变化不明显, 原初能量大于120 GeV时, 总电子数目出现下降, 下降幅度约4%. 模拟结果可对羊八井ARGO实验的观测结果给予合理的解释.     

Neutrons and antiprotons in ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays

The neutron fraction in the very high-energy cosmic rays near the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) cutoff energy is analyzed by taking into account the time dilation effect of the neutron decays and also the pion photoproduction behaviors above the GZK cutoff. We predict a non-trivial neutron fraction above the GZK cutoff and a negligibly small neutron fraction below. However, there should be a large antiproton fraction in the high-energy cosmic rays below the GZK cutoff in several existing models for the observed cosmic-ray events above and near the GZK cutoff. Such a large antiproton fraction can manifest itself by the muon charge ratio μ⁺/μ^- in the collisions of the primary nucleon cosmic rays with the atmosphere, if there is no neutron contribution. We suggest to use the muon charge ratio as one of the information to detect the composition of the primary cosmic rays near or below the GZK cutoff.     

Integral energy spectrum of primary cosmic rays at high energies

The integral energy spectrum of primary cosmic rays has been obtained. In the energy range (2.4×10³−1.1×10⁵ GeV), the spectrum of all nuclei is consistent with a power law of indexγ=1.55±0.06 and the flux of all nuclei is:N(⩾E ₀)⋍(5.1±1.8)×10⁻¹×E ₀ ^−1.55 particles/cm² sterad. sec., whereE ₀ is in GeV. The spectrum of primaryα-particles in the energy range (4.4×10³−4.8×10⁴) GeV is also consistent with a power law of indexγ=1.71±0.12 and the flux is:N(⩾E ₀)=(4.2±1.4)×10⁻¹×E ₀ ^−1.71 , particles per cm² sterad. sec, whereE ₀ is in GeV.     

宇宙线研究进展评述与展望

近年来,宇宙线探测技术发展迅速,天基和地基宇宙线实验均取得了多项重要成果,打破了宇宙线研究领域多年来的沉寂．多手段复合观测是精确测量宇宙线能谱和成分的必要途径,甚高能伽玛射线天文学成为探索宇宙线起源这一世纪之谜的最有效手段．高海拔宇宙线观测站(LHAASO)计划将以最高的超高能伽玛射线探测灵敏度和甚高能伽玛射线巡天灵敏度以及最宽的宇宙线能量覆盖范围探索领域的基本问题．     

Variations of the flux and the energy spectrum of neutrons born in the galactic cosmic ray proton interactions with the matter of Earth''s satellites and orbital stations

This paper presents the energy spectra of secondary neutrons obtained from Monte Carlo simulations of the interactions of protons of galactic cosmic rays with the material of a spacecraft, and also the variation of the fluxes of these particles as a function of latitude. The variations of the secondary neutron flux with changing geometry and orientation of the craft, and detector position were evaluated as well. The simulations were conducted over a wide range of masses of spacecraft, from 300 kg (Earth Probe Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) to 420,000 kg (International Space Station in its full configuration), with calculations for the ISS also being carried out for its first development stage (mass of approx. 20,400 kg) and its configuration with a mass of approx. 81,000 kg. The calculations were carried out for circular orbits at altitudes of 500 km and for the energy intervals 0.001–10 MeV and 10–10,000 MeV, for both maximum and minimum solar activity. The results obtained agree reasonably well with results from previous calculations and do not contradict experimental data.     

Two-decade experience of application of plastic nuclear track detectors to cosmic ray research on satellites and orbital space stations

The work generalizes the results obtained during the last two decades in our spaceborne experiments aimed at studying galactic cosmic rays and cosmic ray anomalous component and carried out using solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) mounted mostly outside spacecraft. The experimental equipment and the techniques for identifying cosmic ray ions and for calculating particle flux values are described. The experimental data are used to construct a modified model for the fluxes and spectra of cosmic ray protons and heavy nuclei to be calculated to within a higher accuracy compared with the earlier models.     

Primary cosmic-ray composition in the energy range of 1014 eV to 1016 eV and high-energy atmospheric cosmic rays observed with emulsion chambers at Mt. Kanbala

Summary We report on the results of the measurements of energy spectra of atmospheric cosmic rays in the energy around 10 TeV measured with emulsion chambers at Mt. Kanbala (5500 m above sea-level, atmospheric depth 520 g/cm²). The power indices of the integral spectra take the values of 2.00±0.08 for gamma-rays and 1.90±0.10 for hadrons, in the energy range from 5 TeV to 20 TeV. Their intensities are compatible with those expected from the primary cosmic rays containing fewer protons than in the lower energy region. The energy spectrum of family events is also discussed with reference to the composition of primary cosmic rays. It is concluded that the portion of protons in the primary cosmic rays gradually decreases in the energy range from 10¹³ eV to 10¹⁵ eV.

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Riassunto Si riportano i risultati delle misurazioni degli spetri di energia dei raggi cosmici atmosferici all'energia di circa 10 TeV misurata con camere d'emulsione a Mt. Kambala (5500 m sul livello del mare, profondità atmosferica 520 g/cm²). Gli indici di potenza degli spettri integrali assumono i valori di 2.00±0.08 per i raggi gamma e 1.90±0.10 per gli adroni, nell'intervallo di energia da 5 TeV a 20 TeV. Le loro intensità sono compatibili con quelle attese dai raggi cosmici primari che contengono meno protoni che nella regione d'energia inferiore. Lo spettro d'energia degli eventi della famiglia è discusso anche con riferimento alla composizione dei raggi cosmici primari. Si conclude che la porzione di protoni nei raggi cosmici primari diminuisce nell'intervallo d'energia da 10¹³ eV a 10¹⁵ eV.

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Резюме Мы приводим результаты измерений энергетических спектров атмосферных космических лучей при энергиях порядка 10 TeB, определенных с помощью змульсионных камер на г. Канбала (5500 м выше уровня моря, атмосферная глубина 520 r/cm²). Степенные показатели интегральных спектров имейт значения 2.00±0.08 для гамма-лучей и 1.90±0.10 для адронов, в области энергий от 5 ТэВ до 20 ТэВ. Полученные интенсивности оказывайтся совместимыми с ожидаемыми интенсивностями от первичных космических лучей, содержащих меньшее число протонов, чем в области меньших энергий. Также обсуждается энергетнческих спектр семейства событий относительно соства первичных космических лучей. Утверждается, что доля протонов в первичных космических лучах постепенно уменьшается в области энергий от 10¹³ зВ до 10¹⁵ эВ.