On the Origin of the Cosmic Radiation

Fermi, E., On the Origin of the Cosmic Radiation, Physical Review, 75, 1169-1174 (1949) (ADS)

The cartoon

(click on the image for a larger version)

The sole illustration from Fermi's classical explanation of the origin of cosmic rays. This shows a "Type B collision", where a moving magnetic cloud adds its velocity to a particle connected to it. "Type A" refers to simple mirror geometries, but again in moving media. In this case the Archivist would describe the plasma flow as having a component parallel to the magnetic field, as opposed to the illustration here in which there is a perpendicular flow. Either could also happen in a solar environment!

Date: 2019 December 05