2021
DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2101.03695
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Nuclear de-excitation lines as a probe of low-energy cosmic rays

Bing Liu,
Rui-zhi Yang,
Felix Aharonian

Abstract: Low-energy cosmic rays (LECRs) contribute substantially to the energy balance of the interstellar medium. They play also significant role in the heating and chemistry of gas, and, consequently, on the star formation process. Because of the slow propagation coupled with enhanced energy losses of subrelativistic particles, LECRs are concentrated around their acceleration sites. LECRs effectively interact with the ambient gas through nuclear reactions. Although these processes are energetically less effective com… Show more

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“…This may point to the existence of an additional CR component emerging at low energies different from those observed directly or through gamma rays, although it seems more likely that ionization sources different from CRs may play a role more prominent than previously thought [101] Furthermore, we note that the methodology used to infer the ionization rate from the data is very sensitive to the composition of the ISM, e.g., to the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [102]. An alternative way to study the CR nuclei population in remote locations below the pion production threshold (kinetic energies of ∼300 MeV/nucleon) would be to observe nuclear de-excitation lines in the 0.1 − 10 MeV range induced by CR collisions with interstellar matter [103,104] thanks to a future MeV telescope [105].…”
Section: Data Complementary To Gamma Rays: Recent Step Forwardsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…This may point to the existence of an additional CR component emerging at low energies different from those observed directly or through gamma rays, although it seems more likely that ionization sources different from CRs may play a role more prominent than previously thought [101] Furthermore, we note that the methodology used to infer the ionization rate from the data is very sensitive to the composition of the ISM, e.g., to the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [102]. An alternative way to study the CR nuclei population in remote locations below the pion production threshold (kinetic energies of ∼300 MeV/nucleon) would be to observe nuclear de-excitation lines in the 0.1 − 10 MeV range induced by CR collisions with interstellar matter [103,104] thanks to a future MeV telescope [105].…”
Section: Data Complementary To Gamma Rays: Recent Step Forwardsmentioning
confidence: 99%