Cosmic Ray Investigation in the Stratosphere and Space: Results from Instruments on Russian Satellites and Balloons

Abstract

Selected activities aimed to investigate cosmic ray fluxes and to contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms behind, over a long-time period using space research tools in the former USSR/Russia and Slovakia, are reviewed, and some of the results obtained are presented. As the selection is connected with the institutes where the authors are working, it represents only a partial review of this wide topic.

Positron Scattering from Methyl Halides

“…The very recent detection of methyl fluoride and methyl chloride in the interstellar medium (ISM) is expected to draw attention for the positron–methyl halide collision studies, since ISM is the primary source of positrons. Further, cosmic ray (CR) showers from the interstellar medium results in the presence of positrons in the Earth’s atmosphere . The main composition of cosmic rays is the atomic nuclei and elementary particles such as electrons, protons, alpha particles, neutrinos, and γ rays although with a small fraction of antimatter such as positron or antiproton.…”

“…Further, cosmic ray (CR) showers from the interstellar medium results in the presence of positrons in the Earth's atmosphere. 23 The main composition of cosmic rays is the atomic nuclei and elementary particles such as electrons, protons, alpha particles, neutrinos, and γ rays although with a small fraction of antimatter such as positron or antiproton. However, these CRs may interact with the atoms present in the Earth's atmosphere to produce more and more elementary particles.…”