Li, Be, B and Cosmic Rays in the Galaxy
Abstract
A short overview is presented of current issues concerning the production and evolution of Li, Be and B in the Milky Way. It is argued that the currently popular idea that Galactic cosmic rays are accelerated inside metal-rich superbubbles (which leads ``naturally'' to the production of primary Be and B, as observed) encounters the same problems as the previously popular idea of supernovae accelerating their own ejecta. A major challenge to theories of light element production is presented by the recent (and still preliminary) data suggesting a surprisingly high and constant abundance of Li in halo stars; attempts to explain such a ``plateau'' are critically examined.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0411569,
title = {Li, Be, B and Cosmic Rays in the Galaxy},
author = {Nikos Prantzos},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0411569},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
6 pages, 2 figures, Invited Review presented at the ESO-ARCETRI workshop on: Chemical Abundances and Mixing in Stars in the Milky Way and its Satellites (September 13-17 2004), To be published in "ESO Astrophysics Symposia", Editors: L. Pasquini and S. Randich