Low-Energy Cosmic Rays and Associated MeV Gamma-Ray Emissions in the Protoplanetary System

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel method to infer properties of low-energy cosmic rays in protoplanetary systems by analyzing gamma-ray emissions resulting from their interactions, aiding understanding of planetary system formation.

Contribution

It introduces a new approach using gamma-ray emissions and the Parker transport equation to reconstruct LECR spectra in protoplanetary disks.

Findings

Simulated LECR propagation and spectral evolution in disks.

Calculated gamma-ray emissions reflecting LECR properties.

Enhanced understanding of cosmic rays' role in planetary formation.

Abstract

Low-energy cosmic rays (LECRs) play a crucial role in the formation of planetary systems, and detecting and reconstructing the properties of early LECRs is essential for understanding the mechanisms of planetary system formation. Given that LECRs interact with the surrounding medium to produce nuclear de-excitation line emissions, which are gamma-ray emissions with energy mainly within 0.1--10 MeV and are unaffected by stellar wind modulation, these emissions can accurately reflect the properties of LECRs. This study introduces an innovative method for using gamma-ray emissions to infer LECR properties. We employed the Parker transport equation to simulate the propagation and spectral evolution of LECRs in a protoplanetary disk and calculated the characteristic gamma-ray emissions resulting from interactions between LECRs and disk material. These gamma-ray emissions encapsulate the spectral information of LECRs, providing a powerful tool to reconstruct the cosmic ray environment at that time. This method, supported by further theoretical developments and observations, will fundamentally enhance our understanding of the impact of CRs on the origin and evolution of planetary systems and address significant scientific questions regarding the cosmic ray environment at the origin of life.