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Relative abundance of the helium isotopes /sup 3/He and /sup 4/He in the cosmic radiation

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)
The geomagnetic field near the equator is used to measure the abundance ratio of /sup 3/He//sup 4/He near 6 GeV/nucleon. This ratio is found to be 0.24 +- 0.05, under the assumption that the helium rigidity spectrum has the form dI/dRapprox.R/sup -2.65/. If all /sup 3/He, is of secondary origin this implies an interstellar mean escape path length of roughly-equal15 g/cm/sup 2/, a value considerably larger than that determined from observations of heavier elements, but compatible with measurements of the helium isotopic ratio at lower energies.
Research Organization:
Enrico Fermi Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637
OSTI ID:
6534575
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 53:5; ISSN PRLTA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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