Supernova shock acceleration of cosmic rays in the Galaxy

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (164) References (34) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Supernova shock acceleration of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. Blandford, R. D. ; Ostriker, J. P. Abstract The regeneration of galactic cosmic rays by first-order Fermi acceleration due to supernova shock waves traversing interstellar space is investigated. It is shown that if most of the volume of the interstellar medium comprises a low density 'coronal' phase and supernova blast waves can propagate for more than 100 pc, then reacceleration of existing cosmic rays is important. Model Green's function describing this redistribution in energy are calculated, and their properties are contrasted with stochastic and source function acceleration schemes. Shock wave acceleration is incorporated in a model containing simple treatments of escape, ionization, radiation, and spallation loss. The injection of low energy particles is treated in an ad hoc fashion. It is shown that it is possible to reproduce the observed cosmic ray spectra for protons, electrons, light, medium and heavy nucleons up to energies of 1000 GeV per nucleon with an effective galactic supernova rate that can be as low as 8 sq kpc/Myr. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: May 1980 DOI: 10.1086/157926 Bibcode: 1980ApJ...237..793B Keywords: Cosmic Rays; Galactic Radiation; Milky Way Galaxy; Particle Acceleration; Shock Waves; Supernovae; Distribution Functions; Interstellar Matter; Power Spectra; Steady State; Supernova Remnants; Space Radiation full text sources ADS |