On the origin of cosmic radiation
Abstract
Review article on research into the origins of cosmic rays. The most important fragments of contemporary research into the origins of cosmic rays are presented, with no claim to exhaustive treatment, as an introduction to the subject. Relevant data on elliptic galaxies and galaxies of other types, the physics of spiral arms and gas-dust nebulosities, galactic magnetic fields, supernova remnants, quasars, intergalactic gas, and the microwave background continuum are indicated. Empirical data on the nature, energy characteristics, time variation, content, and acceleration mechanisms of cosmic radiation of solar and galactic origin are summarized. Numerical estimates of the density and spectrum of cosmic radiation emitted in solar chromosphere bursts and in supernova outbursts, and of galactic and metagalactic cosmic ray activity, are cited. The importance of cosmic-ray physics for the structure and history of the universe and the structure of matter is indicated.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report A
- Pub Date:
- 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976STIA...7630998S
- Keywords:
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- Cosmic Rays;
- Cosmology;
- Galactic Radiation;
- Solar Radiation;
- Chromosphere;
- Elliptical Galaxies;
- Quasars;
- Spiral Galaxies;
- Supernova Remnants;
- Space Radiation