XVII. Emission of energetic helium and lithium fragments in nuclear explosions

Abstract

Summary A phenomenological description is given of the processes which lead to the emission of energetic heavy particles from cosmic ray stars. The frequency, angular distributions and energy spectra of the particles have been determined. These, and an analysis of the associated stars, indicate that the particles cannot be generated by an evaporation process. On the other hand, direct knocking on of the heavy particle by the primary can be excluded. The fragments must therefore result from interactions which are intermediate between these two extreme possibilities. No connection has been found between the ejection of energetic heavy particles and meson showers.