High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
I shall discuss a "unified model" of high energy
astrophysics, in which the gamma background radiation, cluster cooling
flows, gamma-ray bursts, X-ray flashes --as well as cosmic-ray electrons and
nuclei of all energies-- all share a common origin. The mechanism underlying
all these phenomena is the emission of "cannonballs" by ordinary
supernovae, entirely analogous to the observed relativistic ejections in
quasars and microquasars. I shall concentrate on the the origin of
Cosmic Rays, which, at the mature age of 92, is the longest-lasting
conundrum in astrophysics. The distribution of Cosmic Rays in the Galaxy,
their total "luminosity", the broken power-law spectra with
their observed slopes, the position of the knee(s) and ankle(s), and the
variations
of composition with energy indicated by observations are all quantitatively
or qualitatively explained in terms of extremely simple and completely
"standard" physics. If correct, this model is only lacking a satisfactory
theoretical understanding of the "cannon" that emits the cannonballs in
a catastrophic process of accretion onto a compact object.
hep group