Charge and energy spectra of cosmic rays with Z> or approx. =60: The Skylab experiment

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1978 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/155955· OSTI ID:5036591

Shirk, E K; Price, P B

A 1.2 m/sup 2/ array of Lexan track detectors, 1 g cm/sup -2/ thick, inside a 1 g cm/sup -2/ aluminum wall of the Skylab workshop, detected 104 cosmic-ray nuclei with Z> or =65, seven nuclei with Z> or approx. =88, three nuclei with Z> or approx. =94, and no superheavy nuclei (Z> or approx. =110). The shape of the energy spectrum for events with Z> or =65 is consistent with that for Fe, and the abundance ratio is (Z> or =65/Fe)approx. =1.3 x 10/sup -5/. Other abundance ratios are (74< or =Z< or =87)/(Z> or =65)approx. =0.38; (Z> or =88)/(74< or =Z< or =87) =0.10; (Z> or =94)/(74< or =Z< or =87)=0.043. The world limit for superheavy nuclei is none out of 204 with 74< or =Z< or =87. The median error in charge for the Skylab experiment is 3.1%. The charge distribution is inconsistent with a source of solar-system composition (even with preferential acceleration of elements with low ionization potential) and is quite consistent with a source of predominantly r-process material.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley
• OSTI ID: 5036591
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 220:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC NUCLEI
CHARGE DISTRIBUTION
ENERGY SPECTRA
ABUNDANCE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COSMIC RAY DETECTION
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
R PROCESS
COSMIC RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
NUCLEI
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
STAR EVOLUTION
640101* - Astrophysics &amp; Cosmology- Cosmic Radiation