Light and Heavy Cosmic-Ray Mass Group Energy Spectra as Measured by the MAKET-ANI Detector
Abstract
Standard models of cosmic-ray origin link the space accelerators of our Galaxy to the supernova remnants (SNRs)-expanding shells driven by very fast blast waves, usually with gamma-ray pulsars near the morphological center. Energy spectra of fully stripped ions with charges from Z=1 to Z=26 can provide clues to the validity of the standard model. Unfortunately, smeared data from the extensive air shower experiments do not provide enough information for such ion ``spectroscopy.'' Nonetheless, the measurement of energy spectra of two or three broad mass groups (so-called light, intermediate, and heavy) will allow us to prove or disprove the ``rigidity-dependent'' acceleration. Recently, using multidimensional classification methods, the ``all-particle'' spectra from the MAKET-ANI experiment on Mount Aragats, in Armenia, was categorized into two distinct primary mass groups. We present, for the first time, the light and heavy nuclei spectra from the MAKET-ANI experiment.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- March 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1086/383086
- Bibcode:
- 2004ApJ...603L..29C
- Keywords:
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- Acceleration of Particles;
- ISM: Cosmic Rays;
- ISM: Supernova Remnants