Cosmic ray He-3 measurements

Abstract

The rare isotopes H-2 and He-3 in cosmic rays are believed to be of secondary origin produced by nuclear interactions of primary H-1 and He-4 with the interstellar medium. There has recently been renewed interest in these isotopes as a result of indications from high energy antiproton, positron, and He-3 observations that the origin of some primary H and He nuclei may differ from that of heavier cosmic rays. A new observation of low energy He-3 is examined. Previously reported He-3 and He-4 measurements at both low and high energies are examined and compared with calculations of the expected He-3 and He-4 ratio at 1 AU. No evidence for an excess of low energy He-3 such as that reported at high energies was found.