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The relative abundance of the isotopes of Li, Be and B and the age of cosmic rays

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Abstract

Using a balloon borne double dE/dx x total energy telescope we have determined the isotopic composition of cosmic ray Li, Be and B nuclei in the energy range 100–250 MeV nuc.−1. The measured mass resolution, σ for these nuclei is ∼0.3 AMU. The observed isotopic composition is in agreement with that predicted on the basis of interstellar fragmentation with the exception of a deficiency of Be10. If the low abundance of Be10 is attributed to the decay of this radioactive isotope we obtain a mean cosmic ray lifetime of (3.4 +3.4−1.3 )×106 yr.

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Author notes

  1. S. V. Damle

    Present address: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Dept., Univ. of New Hamsphire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA

    W. R. Webber, J. A. Lezniak, J. Kish & S. V. Damle

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  1. W. R. Webber
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  2. J. A. Lezniak
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  3. J. Kish
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  4. S. V. Damle
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Additional information

A recent measurement which we have used in this paper gives this lifetime to be (1.5±0.3)×106 yr (Yiou and Raisbeck, 1972).

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Webber, W.R., Lezniak, J.A., Kish, J. et al. The relative abundance of the isotopes of Li, Be and B and the age of cosmic rays. Astrophys Space Sci 24, 17–29 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00648672

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00648672

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