The isotopic composition of cosmic rays

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

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Cosmic Rays, Heavy Nuclei, Isotopes, Airborne Equipment, Cerenkov Counters, Mass Spectra, Nuclear Fusion, Particle Acceleration, Particle Telescopes

Scientific paper

Results from an airborne cosmic ray telescope designed to detect and resolve the isotopes of the heavy cosmic ray nuclei are discussed. Nuclear charge was measured with a double scintillator-Cerenkov array and mass was determined by combining the Cerenkov signal with the residual range measured in a stack of nuclear emulsions. Of the 27,000 nuclei detected, 5,000 nuclei stopped in the nuclear emulsions and are therefore suitable for mass analysis. Mass spectra are presented for the nuclei of Ne, Al, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Ni. The (26) Al/Si abundance ratio places an upper limit of rho approx. 0.4 atoms/cu cm on the density of the interstellar medium in the vicinity of the Sun. An overabundance of (44) Ca was detected, suggesting either large uncertainties in the cross section for production of (44) Ca from iron, or the decay of appreciable amounts of (44) Ti at the source before acceleration. The latter hypothesis suggests that the time delay between nucleosynthesis and acceleration is approx. 100 years. The neutron excess is determined from the iron group isotopes and the astrophysical implications of the results are discussed.

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