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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
Cosmic rays, which are primarily relativistic protons, comprise only about a billionth of interstellar particles by number, but have about as much energy as the thermal gas. In galaxies like our own, they are coupled to the background electromagnetically, by the interstellar magnetic field. According to the classical theory of cosmic ray confinement, this coupling occurs through plasma instabilities generated by the cosmic rays themselves, and can be described by a fluid theory. I will describe the basis for self confinement and some recent challenges to the theory.
Host: Hui Li