Extragalactic origin of antiprotons

Abstract

The effect of Galactic modulation on cosmic rays entering the Galaxy from outside has been studied for two different models for the confinement of cosmic rays, using a one-dimensional transport equation. From this study, the role of extragalactic cosmic rays has been examined critically in the context of the recent data on antiprotons. It is concluded that they are not a significant source of cosmic ray antiprotons. However, determination of the energy spectrum of antiprotons at least up to a few tens of GeV would provide information on the modulation of cosmic rays, while entering the Galaxy from outside.