Skip to main content
Log in

Anisotropy of cosmic radiation in the Galaxy

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

ONE of the most interesting features of high energy cosmic radiation is its striking isotropy. A large degree of isotropy would be an obvious consequence of an extragalactic origin for cosmic rays, but there are some difficulties in interpreting it in terms of a galactic origin. Although there are theoretical arguments in favour of the latter, the existence of cosmic-ray anisotropy in the Galaxy has not yet been proved experimentally. Here we report a measurement, point M in Fig. 1, which proves the existence of an anisotropy in galactic cosmic radiation. It was detected by examining extensive air showers produced by cosmic-ray primaries of energies ∼6 × 1013 eV (which are certainly not affected by solar modulation).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Speller, R., Thambyahpillai, T., and Elliot, H., Nature, 235, 25–29 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Efimov, N. N., Krasilnikov, D. D., Nikolskii, S. I., and Shamsutdinova, F. K., Can J. Phys., 46, S84–86 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Escobar, I., Nerurkar, N., and Weil, R., Planet. Space Sci., 1, 155–60 (1959).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Jacklyn, R. M., ANARE Sci. Rep., No. 114 (1970).

  5. Delvaille, J., Kendziorski, F., and Greisen, K., J. phys. Soc. Jap., 17, Suppl. III, 76–83 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Daudin, J., et al., Nuovo Cim., 3 1017–32 (1956).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Cachon, A., VIth Interamerican Seminar on Cosmic Rays, 2, 39–42 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

GOMBOSI, T., KOTA, J., SOMOGYI, A. et al. Anisotropy of cosmic radiation in the Galaxy. Nature 255, 687–689 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/255687a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/255687a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Navigation