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/ 000848072400003 2-s2.0-85145809722 2022PhyU...65..379P Citation: Panasyuk M I, Miroshnichenko L I "Particle acceleration in space: a universal mechanism?" Phys. Usp. 65 379–405 (2022) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks 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