Cosmic Rays as an Object of Research

Abstract

It is natural to define cosmic rays (CR) as particles and photons with energies at least several orders of magnitude higher than the average energy of thermal particles of background plasma. There is internal CR, generated inside the background plasma of object considered, and external CR generated in other objects and propagated to the object considered. We are now aware of CR of different origin: Extragalactic CR of very high energy (up to 1021 eV ), are generated in radiogalaxies, quasars, and other powerful objects in the Universe, and come through intergalactic space to our Galaxy, to the Heliosphere, and into the Earth’s atmosphere. Therefore, they are external CR relative to our Galaxy. Galactic CR, with energy at least up to 1015 - 1016 eV, are generated mainly in supernova explosions and supernova remnants, in magnetospheres of pulsars and double stars, by shock waves in interstellar space and other possible objects in the Galaxy. These CR are internal relative to our Galaxy and external to our Heliosphere and the Earth’s magnetosphere. Solar CR, with energy up to 15–30 GeV, generated in the solar corona in periods of powerful solar flares, are internal CR for the Sun’s corona and external for interplanetary space and the Earth’s magnetosphere. Interplanetary CR, with energy up to 10–100 MeV, are generated by a terminal shock wave at the boundary of the Heliosphere and by powerful interplanetary shock waves. They are internal to our Heliosphere and external to the Earth’s magnetosphere. Magnetospheric (or planetary) CR, with energy up to 10 MeV for Jupiter and Saturn, and up to 30 keV for the Earth, are generated inside the magnetospheres of rotating magnetic planets.