Anomalous Cosmic Rays and their Ionization States

A. Dutta; R.K. Singh; B. Mitra; S. Biswas; N. Durgaprasad; J.N. Goswami; M.N. Vahia; J.S. Yadav

doi:10.14429/dsj.42.4392

A. Dutta Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.
R.K. Singh Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay
B. Mitra Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay
S. Biswas Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay
N. Durgaprasad Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay
J.N. Goswami Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad
M.N. Vahia Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay
J.S. Yadav Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.42.4392

Keywords: Cosmic rays

Abstract

Ionization states of 16 individual anomalous cosmic ray events have been determined in the anuradha cosmic ray experiment conducted onboard Spacelab-3. The geomagnetic field was used as a rigidity filter for the energetic charged particles, and the upper limit on their ionization states is obtained by using the relation Z <= M.p.c/R/sub c/. Out of 16 events, 11 are found to be singly ionized and the other five events are consistent with their being in singly ionized states. The singly ionized nature of the anomalous cosmic ray particles suggests neutrals in the local interstellar space as their source.