Compact source origin of cosmic ray antiprotons
The flux of cosmic ray antiprotons with kinetic energies between /approximately/1 and 15 GeV is /approximately/5 times greater than the flux predicted on the basis of the leaky-box model. This excess is attributed to secondary antineutron production in compact sources. Because the antineutrons are not confined by the magnetic field of the compact source, they leave the interaction site, decay in interstellar space and account for the apparent excess cosmic ray antiproton flux. The escape and decay of neutrons produced in association with the antineutrons is a source of cosmic ray protons. Observations of the angular variation of the intensity and spectral shape of 100 MeV ..gamma..-rays produced by neutron-decay protons in the reaction p + p ..-->.. ..pi../sup 0/ ..-->.. 2..gamma.. could reveal compact-source cosmic ray production sites. COS-B observations of spectral hardening near point sources, and future high-resolution observations of galactic point sources by Gamma-1 and the Egret telescope onboard the Gamma Ray Observatory may provide supporting evidence for this model. 12 refs., 2 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6458526
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-100343; CONF-881212-1; ON: DE89008044; TRN: 89-008846
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Particle astrophysics workshop, Berkeley, CA, USA, 8 Dec 1988; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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GENERAL PHYSICS
ANTIPROTONS
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC PROTONS
PRODUCTION
ANTINEUTRONS
PARTICLE DECAY
ANTIBARYONS
ANTIMATTER
ANTINUCLEI
ANTINUCLEONS
ANTIPARTICLES
BARYONS
COSMIC RADIATION
DECAY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
PROTONS
RADIATIONS
640101* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Cosmic Radiation