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The generation of low-energy cosmic rays in molecular clouds

Yu. A. Shchekinov
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Abstract

It is argued that if cosmic rays penetrate into molecular clouds, the total energy they lose can exceed the energy from galactic supernovae shocks. It is shown that most likely galactic cosmic rays interacting with the surface layers of molecular clouds are efficiently reflected and do not penetrate into the cloud interior. Low-energy cosmic rays ($E<1$ GeV) that provide the primary ionization of the molecular cloud gas can be generated inside such clouds by multiple shocks arising due to supersonic turbulence.

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Yu. A. Shchekinov. 2005-03-24. The generation of low-energy cosmic rays in molecular clouds. https://doi.org/10.1134/1.1898404

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