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arXiv · 1106.4740

Tracing the sources of cosmic rays with molecular ions

J. K. Becker·J. H. Black·M. Safarzadeh·F. Schuppan
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Abstract

The rate of ionization by cosmic rays in interstellar gas directly associated with gamma-ray emitting supernova remnants is for the first time calculated to be several orders of magnitude larger than the Galactic average. Analysis of ionization-induced chemistry yields the first quantitative prediction of the astrophysical H_{2}^{+} emission line spectrum, which should be detectable together with H_3^+ lines. The predicted coincident observation of those emission lines and gamma-rays will help prove that supernova remnants are sources of cosmic rays.

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J. K. Becker, J. H. Black, M. Safarzadeh, F. Schuppan. 2011-06-23. Tracing the sources of cosmic rays with molecular ions. https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205%2F739%2F2%2Fl43

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