Observations of the Li, Be, and B isotopes and constraints on cosmic-ray propagation

G. A. de Nolfo, I. V. Moskalenko, W. R. Binns, E. R. Christian, A. C. Cummings, A. J. Davis, J. S. George, P. L. Hink, M. H. Israel, R. A. Leske, M. Lijowski, R. A. Mewaldt, E. C. Stone, A. W. Strong, T. T. von Rosenvinge, M. E. Wiedenbeck, Nathan Eugene Yanasak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

The abundance of Li, Be, and B isotopes in galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) between E = 50 and 200 MeV/nucleon has been observed by the Cosmic Ray Isotope Spectrometer (CRIS) on NASA's ACE mission since 1997 with high statistical accuracy. Precise observations of Li, Be, and B can be used to constrain GCR propagation models. We find that a diffusive reacceleration model with parameters that best match CRIS results (e.g., B/C, Li/C, etc.) are also consistent with other GCR observations. A ∼15-20% overproduction of Li and Be in the model predictions is attributed to uncertainties in the production cross-section data. The latter becomes a significant limitation to the study of rare GCR species that are generated predominantly via spallation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1558-1564
Number of pages7
JournalAdvances in Space Research
Volume38
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006

Keywords

  • Cosmic rays
  • Galaxy
  • ISM
  • abundances
  • evolution
  • general

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Geophysics
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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