Spectral breaks as a signature of cosmic ray induced turbulence in the Galaxy

We show that the complex shape of the cosmic ray (CR) spectrum, as recently measured by PAMELA and inferred from Fermi-LAT γ-ray observations of molecular clouds in the Gould belt, can be naturally understood in terms of basic plasma astrophysics phenomena. A break from a harder to a softer spectrum at rigidity R is approximately equal to 10 GV follows from a transition from transport dominated by advection of particles with Alfvén waves to a regime where diffusion in the turbulence generated by the same CRs is dominant. A second break at R is approximately equal to 200 GV happens when the diffusive propagation is no longer determined by the self-generated turbulence, but rather by the cascading of externally generated turbulence (for instance due to supernova bubbles) from large spatial scales to smaller scales where CRs can resonate. Implications of this scenario for the cosmic ray spectrum, grammage, and anisotropy are discussed.

Proton-helium spectral anomaly as a signature of cosmic ray accelerator

The much-anticipated proof of cosmic ray (CR) acceleration in supernova remnants must hinge on the full consistency of acceleration theory with the observations; direct proof is impossible because of CR-orbit scrambling. Recent observations indicate deviations between helium and proton CR rigidity spectra inconsistent with the theory. By considering an initial (injection) phase of the diffusive shock acceleration, where elemental similarity does not apply, we demonstrate that the spectral difference is, in fact, a unique signature of the acceleration mechanism. Collisionless shocks inject more He(2+) when they are stronger and so produce harder He(2+) spectra. The injection bias is due to Alfvén waves driven by the more abundant protons, so the He(2+) ions are harder to trap by these waves. By fitting the p/He ratio to the PAMELA data, we bolster the diffusive shock acceleration case for resolving the century-old mystery of CR origin.

Low-energy break in the spectrum of Galactic cosmic rays

Measurements of the low-energy spectrum of Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) by detectors on or near Earth are affected by solar modulation. To overcome this difficulty, we consider nearby molecular clouds as GCR detectors outside the Solar System. Using γ-ray observations of the clouds by the Fermi telescope, we derive the spectrum of GCRs in the clouds from the observed γ-ray emission spectrum. We find that the GCR spectrum has a low-energy break with the spectral slope hardening by ΔΓ=1.1±0.3 at an energy of E=9±3  GeV. Detection of a low-energy break enables a measurement of GCR energy density in the interstellar space U=0.9±0.3  eV/cm{3}.

Measurement of separate cosmic-ray electron and positron spectra with the fermi large area telescope

We measured separate cosmic-ray electron and positron spectra with the Fermi Large Area Telescope. Because the instrument does not have an onboard magnet, we distinguish the two species by exploiting Earth's shadow, which is offset in opposite directions for opposite charges due to Earth's magnetic field. We estimate and subtract the cosmic-ray proton background using two different methods that produce consistent results. We report the electron-only spectrum, the positron-only spectrum, and the positron fraction between 20 and 200 GeV. We confirm that the fraction rises with energy in the 20-100 GeV range. The three new spectral points between 100 and 200 GeV are consistent with a fraction that is continuing to rise with energy.

Cosmic-ray electron flux measured by the PAMELA experiment between 1 and 625 GeV

Precision measurements of the electron component in the cosmic radiation provide important information about the origin and propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. Here we present new results regarding negatively charged electrons between 1 and 625 GeV performed by the satellite-borne experiment PAMELA. This is the first time that cosmic-ray e⁻ have been identified above 50 GeV. The electron spectrum can be described with a single power-law energy dependence with spectral index -3.18 ± 0.05 above the energy region influenced by the solar wind (> 30 GeV). No significant spectral features are observed and the data can be interpreted in terms of conventional diffusive propagation models. However, the data are also consistent with models including new cosmic-ray sources that could explain the rise in the positron fraction.