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Supernova Remnants and the ISM: Constraints from Cosmic-Ray Acceleration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Amri Wandel*
Affiliation:
Center of Space Science and Astrophysics, Stanford University, ERL, Stanford, CA 94305USA

Abstract

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Supernova remnants can reaccelerate cosmic rays and modify their distribution during the cosmic ray propagation in the galaxy. Cosmic ray observations (in particular the boron-to-carbon data) strongly limit the permitted amount of reacceleration, which is used to set an upper limit on the expansion of supernova remnants, and a lower limit on the effective density of the ISM swept up by supernova shocks. The constraint depends on the theory of cosmic ray propagation: the standard Leaky Box model requires a high effective density, > 1cm−3, and is probably inconsistent with the present picture of the ISM. Modifying the Leaky Box model to include a moderate amount of weak-shock reacceleration, a self consistent solution is found, where the effective density in this solution is ≈ 0.1 cm−3, which implies efficient evaporation of the warm ISM component by young supernova remnants, during most of their supersonic expansion.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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