Abundances and energy spectra of cosmic ray iron and nickel at energies from 1 to 10 GeV PER amu

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/159210· OSTI ID:5817248

Minagawa, G

A scintillation-Cerenkov counter telescope has been used to measure the absolute flux and energy spectra of the nuclear components of the primary cosmic radiation. This instrument has been flown twice on high-altitude balloons launched from Muskogee, Oklahoma (vertical rigidity cutoff of 3.4 GV), and has provided a total exposure of 20 m/sup 2/ sr hr. In this paper we present the measurements of the abundances and the differential energy spectra of iron and nickel in the energy interval from 1 to 10 GeV per amu. The mean abundance of nickel relative to iron is found to be 0.050 +- 0.003. This ratio is consistent with abundances at the source which are similar to those of the interstellar medium as estimated both by Meyer and by Cameron. If we fit the measured energy spectra to single power laws in total energy, we obtain spectral indices of 2.44 +- 0.07 for iron and 2.33 +- 0.13 for nickel.

• Research Organization: Enrico Fermi Institute and Department of Physics, University of Chicago
• OSTI ID: 5817248
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 248:2; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
CHERENKOV COUNTERS
COSMIC NUCLEI
COSMIC RADIATION
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SPECTRA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRON
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
NICKEL
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATIONS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SCINTILLATION COUNTING
SPECTRA
TRANSITION ELEMENTS