Cosmic Ray Models for Early Galactic Lithium, Beryllium, and Boron Production

Abstract

To understand better the early galactic production of Li, Be, and B by cosmic ray spallation and fusion reactions, the dependence of these production rates on cosmic ray models and model parameters is examined. The sensitivity of elemental and isotopic production to the cosmic ray pathlength magnitude and energy dependence, source spectrum, spallation kinematics, and cross section uncertainties is studied. Changes in these model features, particularly those features related to confinement, are shown to alter the Be- and B-versus-Fe slopes {}from a na\"ıve quadratic relation. The implications of our results for the diffuse $\gamma$-ray background are examined, and the role of chemical evolution and its relation to our results is noted. It is also noted that the unmeasured high energy behavior of $\alpha +\alpha$ fusion can lead to effects as large as a factor of 2 in the resultant yields. Future data should enable Population II Li, Be, and B abundances to constrain cosmic ray models for the early Galaxy.

arXiv comment38 pages, LaTeX, 20 postscript figures available via anonymous ftp (oddjob.uchicago.edu, pub/cosmic_rays/Figs.sh), FERMILAB-Pub-94/010-A

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