Magnetic stars as generators of cosmic rays.

A process is suggested in which interstellar gas particles can be accelerated by the electromagnetic forces produced by a rotating stellar magnetic field. The element to be accelerated should be ionized when it encounters the magnetic field of the star. The observed abundances of the different elements in the low energy range is naturally explained in terms of differences in the degree of ionization prior to acceleration, and by the corresponding difference in probability of acceleration. On the assumption that all the rotational energy of the magnetic stars is finally converted into acceleration of interstellar ions the energy input by this process may be in excess of 10-8? erg cm-8 -i We suggest that such a cosmic ray source, from which the energy input may be of the order of a few percent of the energy input required to explain the total spectrum of cosmic rays, is of importance in the low energy part of the spectrum. Key words: cosmic rays - magnetic stars - interstellar gas