HIGH ENERGY COSMIC RAYS (Second Edition)

Todor Stanev

COSMIC RAYS are highly energetic particles that move through space at close to the speed of light. The majority come from sources beyond the Solar System and are known as galactic cosmic rays. It is thought that cosmic rays represent a mixture of interstellar matter enriched with material from astrophysical processes such as supernova explosions. However, in spite of nearly 90 years of research, many questions remain, including where they come from, and how particles get accelerated to such incredibly high energies.

High Energy Cosmic Rays draws on the author’s 30 years’ experience in the field of cosmic ray research. It reviews our present knowledge of cosmic rays, describing how they are born in a wide range of cosmic processes, how they are accelerated and how they interact with matter, magnetic fields and radiation during their journay across the Universe. Covering both the theoretical aspects and experimental techniques, it presents the very latest and most exciting topics in this subject. This second edition includes the most recent data from very high energy air shower experiments and gamma-ray astronomy, as well the fast developments in high energy neutrino astronomy.

Table of Contents

Preface to the second edition
Preface to the first edition
Acknowledgements

1. Overview

PART I The standard model of cosmic rays
2. Cosmic ray interactions
3. The birth of cosmic rays
4. Cosmic rays in the Galaxy
5. Cosmic rays at the top of the atmosphere
6. Cosmic rays in the atmosphere
7. Cosmic rays underground

PART 11 Contemporary Challenges
8. Cosmic ray showers
9. The end of the cosmic ray spectrum
10. High energy neutrino and gamma-ray astronomy

Appendix
A.1 Physical constants
A.2 Astrophysical constants
A.3 Properties of particles discussed in the book
References
Index

Extent: 352 pages
Binding: Hardback
Published: 2010
ISBN: 978-3-540-85147-9

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