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Does electromagnetic radiation accelerate galactic cosmic raysThe 'reactor' theories of Tsytovich and collaborators (1973) of cosmic-ray acceleration by electromagnetic radiation are examined in the context of galactic cosmic rays. It is shown that any isotropic synchrotron or Compton reactors with reasonable astrophysical parameters can yield particles with a maximum relativistic factor of only about 10,000. If they are to produce particles with higher relativistic factors, the losses due to inverse Compton scattering of the electromagnetic radiation in them outweigh the acceleration, and this violates the assumptions of the theory. This is a critical restriction in the context of galactic cosmic rays, which have a power-law spectrum extending up to a relativistic factor of 1 million.
Document ID
19770061294
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Eichler, D.
(Chicago, University Chicago, Ill., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
August 15, 1977
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
77A44146
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-14-001-001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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