Analysis of the Spectral Intensities and Ratios of Electrons and Positrons in Cosmic Rays

TL;DR

This paper analyzes cosmic ray electron and positron spectral data from multiple instruments using analytical models, revealing that the positron fraction fits a specific propagation model and discussing features in the electron spectrum.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical approach to modeling cosmic ray electrons and positrons, demonstrating the fit of the positron fraction with the nested leaky box model and exploring spectral features.

Findings

Positron fraction fits the nested leaky box model across 1-100 GeV.

Derived electron spectrum from direct acceleration sources.

Identified a narrow spectral feature in the electron spectrum.

Abstract

The observations of the total electronic component and the positron fraction in cosmic rays by the FERMI, HESS, ATIC, and PAMELA instruments are studied with analytical propagation models, both for a set of discrete sources and for a spatially smooth source distribution. The positron fraction over the entire energy range of ~1-100 GeV is shown to fit with the nested leaky box model. We derive the spectrum of electrons in cosmic rays arising from direct acceleration by the sources and discuss the narrow spectral feature in the spectrum.