Cosmic Radiation and Cosmic Magnetic Fields. I. Origin and Propagation of Cosmic Rays in our Galaxy

The radiofrequency radiation of the galaxy is shown to be analogous not to the "quiet" but to the "disturbed" radiation of the sun (produced by plasma oscillations). Many arguments point toward its origin on stars with an "activity" qualitatively similar to that of the sun but several billion times stronger. It is assumed that in these stars the relation between radiofrequency radiation and the emission of cosmic rays is similar to that observed for the sun by Forbush and Ehmert. In the magnetic field of the galaxy this primary cosmic radiation is "stored" by a factor 10³ to 10⁴, each particle describing a complicated path until it is killed by a nuclear collision, and directional isotropy established. The cutoff of the energy spectrum at small energies, hitherto mostly ascribed to a solar magnetic dipole, is attributed to the stopping power of interstellar matter. Some other theories concerning the origin of cosmic rays are reviewed critically.