Cosmic ray streaming - I. Effect of Alfvén waves on particles.

The motion of cosmic rays through a moving magnetized medium supporting a spectrum of hydromagnetic waves is reexamined. In different approximations, Fermi acceleration, convective motion through space, diffusive motion, and free streaming are recovered. It is shown that Fermi acceleration can greatly modify the adiabatic energy losses which have conventionally been thought to accompany convective motion of cosmic rays. This may have implications for 'self-confinement' theories of cosmic ray propagation.