On the Origin of Cosmic Rays

R. Plaga

Published 2001-11-29Version 1

The problem in identifying the sites of origin of Galactic Cosmic Rays (CRs) is reviewed. Recent observational evidence from very-high energy (VHE, energies above 100 GeV) gamma-ray measurements is in contradiction with the surmise that synchrotron radiation from relativistic electrons is indicative for hadron acceleration. It rather points to a CR-acceleration efficiency of supernova remnants (SNRs) below one percent, much less than the value required if these objects were to be the main sources of Galactic cosmic rays (about 30%). Observations of CR anisotropy and the emission of low-energy (energy < 10 GeV) gamma-rays from the Galactic disk indicate that the sources of low-energy cosmic rays are distributed with a Galactocentric radial scale length in the order of 25 +- 10 kpc, much larger than expected if SNRs are the main sources of CRs. These two facts - together with the body of evidence from CR isotope abundances - strongly suggest that a new class of astrophysical objects - distinct from SNRs and located manly in the outer reaches of our Galaxy - is the major source of hadronic CRs in our Galaxy. The basic observational features of ultra high-energy (UHE, energy > 10^{19} eV) CRs are most naturally understood if the same CR sources accelerate CRs up to the highest observed CR energies. Proposals for the nature of a new source class are mentioned. The origin of CRs is still as much shrouded in mystery as it was in 1957, when Philip Morrison wrote a seminal review about CR origin. The potential for discoveries is thus great.