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Published November 21, 2001 | Version Published
Book Section - Chapter Open

The Phosphorus/Sulfur Abundance Ratio as a Test of Galactic Cosmic-Ray Source Models

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Abstract

Galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) elemental abundances display a fractionation compared to solar-system values that appears ordered by atomic properties such as the first ionization potential (FIP) or condensation temperature (volatility). Determining which parameter controls the observed fractionation is crucial to distinguish between GCR origin models. The Cosmic-Ray Isotope Spectrometer (CRIS) instrument on board NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft can measure the abundances of several elements that break the general correlation between FIP and volatility (e.g., Na, P, K, Cu, Zn, Ga, and Ge). Phosphorus is a particularly interesting case as it is a refractory (high condensation temperature) element with a FIP value nearly identical to that of its semi-volatile neighbor, sulfur. Using a leaky-box galactic propagation model we find that the P/S and Na/Mg ratios in the GCR source favor volatility as the controlling parameter.

Additional Information

© 2001 American Institute of Physics. Issue Date: 21 November 2001. This work was supported by NASA at the California Institute of Technology (under grant NAG5-6912), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Goddard Space Flight Center, and Washington University.

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Eprint ID
27832
Resolver ID
CaltechAUTHORS:20111117-112058199

Funding

NASA
NAG5-6912
JPL
Goddard Space Flight Center
Washington University

Dates

Created
2011-11-17
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Updated
2021-11-09
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Caltech Custom Metadata

Caltech groups
Space Radiation Laboratory
Series Name
AIP Conference Proceedings
Series Volume or Issue Number
598
Other Numbering System Name
Space Radiation Laboratory
Other Numbering System Identifier
2001-62