Particle acceleration in space: a universal mechanism?

M.I. Panasyuk^a, L.I. Miroshnichenko^†^a, b
^aLomonosov Moscow State University, Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Leninskie Gory 1 build. 2, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
^bPushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kaluzhskoe shosse 4, Troitsk, Москва, 108840, Russian Federation

Experimental evidence in favor of or against the existence of a universal mechanism for the acceleration of charged particles in the Universe is analyzed from the modern standpoint. We adopt a purely phenomenological approach to this very intricate problem, discussing spatial scales that range from the magnetospheres of Earth and other planets of the Solar System to the Sun's atmosphere, the heliosphere, supernovae, and extragalactic objects responsible for the generation of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. We demonstrate a great variety of acceleration mechanisms operating in the Universe. However, data on the nuclear composition of accelerated particles obtained in numerous experiments may be indicative of a global nature of the Fermi-type stochastic acceleration mechanism inherent in various astrophysical objects. This mechanism may well be dominant over others, but a number of experimental observations are nevertheless inconsistent with that idea. It is possible that a hierarchy of accelerating mechanisms operates in some space objects, with preliminary acceleration by one mech„anism followed by other mechanisms, acting sequentially or alternatively. We therefore discuss all currently available data for and against the global `presence' of a Fermi-type acceleration mechanism.

Keywords: cosmic rays, acceleration sources and mechanisms, shock waves in space, plasma physics, composition, spectrum, anisotropy, new physics of nuclear interactions
PACS: 26.40.+r, 96.50.Vg, 98.70.Sa (all)
DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2021.07.039022
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2022/4/c/
Web of Science

000848072400003
Scopus

2-s2.0-85145809722
ADS NASA

2022PhyU...65..379P
Citation: Panasyuk M I, Miroshnichenko L I "Particle acceleration in space: a universal mechanism?" Phys. Usp. 65 379–405 (2022)

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Received: 5th, November 2020, revised: 14th, July 2021, accepted: 17th, July 2021

Оригинал: Панасюк М И, Мирошниченко Л И «Ускорение частиц в космосе: универсальный механизм?» УФН 192 413–442 (2022); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2021.07.039022