Consequences of the common origin of the knee and ankle in Cosmic Ray Physics

TL;DR

This paper validates a theory predicting the cosmic ray energy spectrum and composition from solar energies to ultra-high energies, aligning well with experimental data and revealing insights into cosmic ray origins and acceleration limits.

Contribution

It demonstrates that a single normalization point can accurately predict the entire cosmic ray spectrum and composition, supporting a common origin hypothesis for knee and ankle features.

Findings

Spectrum predicted over many decades matches observations.

Mean logarithmic mass increases then lightens with energy.

The theory suggests bounds on cosmic ray acceleration mechanisms.

Abstract

The differential energy spectrum of the cosmic radiation from solar modulation energies up to 5x10**19 eV is correctly predicted by a recent theory of the knee and ankle which uses only one normalization point. This remarkable quantitative result, spanning over many decades in energy and intensity, along with the existence of the second knee at 6x10**17 eV, is obtained assuming constant spectral indices of individual ions at the cosmic-ray sources and no other critical hypotheses. In this study the chemical composition of the cosmic radiation is evaluated as a direct consequence of the theory. The computed mean logarithmic mass exhibits a rising trend from 1.8 to 3.0 in the range 10**15-10**17 eV, a maximum value of 3.2 at 3x10**17 eV, and a characteristic lightening above 3x10**17 eV up to 4x10**18 eV. All of these distinctive features are in accord with the data of many experiments. Two additional consequences intrinsic to the theory are qualitatively discussed: (1) some limitative bounds on the mechanism accelerating cosmic rays; (2) the degree of isotropy implied by the residence time of the cosmic rays in the Galaxy.