Possible existence of cosmological cosmic rays I. the framework for light-element and gamma-ray production

Journal Article · Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 1977 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/155459· OSTI ID:7219728

Montmerle, T

This paper examines the possibility of the existence of cosmological cosmic rays (CCR), in the framework of big-bang cosmology. The model assumes a total energy spectrum similar to that observed at Earth at high energies, a composition of protons and ..cap alpha..-particles only, with ..cap alpha../p=0.1. Following Stecker, the CCR are assumed to be born in a burst at some (high) redshift z/sub s/. Gamma-rays originate from ..pi../sup 0/ decay resulting from interactions of the high-energy part of the CCR, and light elements are produced via (p..cap alpha..)+(p..cap alpha..) reactions by the low-energy part, both of them by collisions with the ambient matter (of density corresponding to a deceleration parameter q/sub 0/).The 1--100 MeV ..gamma..-ray background spectrum and the lithium abundance are considered as observational constraints on the possible CCR flux intensity. To this end, a theoretical framework is set for simultaneous ..gamma..-ray and light-element production by solving a system of coupled time-dependent transport equations, taking ionization and expansion losses into account. The absolute lithium abundance is calculated by normalizing the CCR flux to the observed ..gamma..-ray background spectrum; numerical results will be given and discussed in a separate paper, as a function of q/sub 0/ and z/sub s/.

• Research Organization: Service d'Electronique Physique, Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Saclay, France
• OSTI ID: 7219728
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 216:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC RADIATION
GAMMA RADIATION
COSMOLOGY
ALPHA PARTICLES
COSMIC PROTONS
CROSS SECTIONS
EXPANSION
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEONS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RED SHIFT
UNIVERSE
BARYONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
PROTONS
RADIATIONS
640101* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Cosmic Radiation