Acceleration of Cosmic Rays in Supernova Remnants

Abstract

If the electromagnetic wave theory of pulsars is correct, then particle acceleration occurs within the nebulous debris of the supernova explosion. Model calculations show that each event produces about 1049 erg in ionic cosmic rays. Particle energies range from 109 to 1016 eV (with spectral index ∼ 2 before corrections for losses), and the chemical composition is mostly that of matter processed through several stages of nuclear burning. Both the electronic and the ionic components of the galactic cosmic rays can be maintained by particles accelerated in supernova remnants.