Astrophysical models for the origin of the positron “excess”

2011/08/31 by Pasquale D. Serpico, Pasquale Dario Serpico · 5 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #astro-ph.HE #hep-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.astropartphys.2011.08.007

15 pages (150 references), 2 figures: review article for a Topical Issue on Cosmic Rays, matches version appearing in Astroparticle Physics

openalex publication_date 2011/09/01 · arxiv created 2012/06/06 · arxiv updated 2012/06/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Over the last three years, several satellite and balloon observatories have suggested intriguing features in the cosmic ray lepton spectra. Most notably, the PAMELA satellite has suggested an "anomalous" rise with energy of the cosmic ray positron fraction. In this article, we summarize the global picture emerging from the data and recapitulate the main features of different types of explanations proposed. The perspectives in testing different scenarios as well as inferring some astrophysical diagnostics from current/near future experiments are also discussed.

Citations

• Fermi results on gamma-ray binaries
• The Cosmic-Ray Positron and Electron Excess: An Experimentalist's Point of View
• High-energy electron observations by PPB-BETS flight in Antarctica
• Energization of interstellar media and cosmic ray production by jets from X-ray binaries
• Black Holes, White Dwarfs, and Neutron Stars: The Physics of Compact Objects
• Pulsars as the sources of high energy cosmic ray positrons
• New Measurement of the Cosmic-Ray Positron Fraction from 5 to 15 GeV
• Particle acceleration at astrophysical shocks: A theory of cosmic ray origin
• Discovery of Localized Regions of Excess 10-TeV Cosmic Rays
• The Evolution and Structure of Pulsar Wind Nebulae
• Constraints on the Galactic Halo Dark Matter from Fermi-LAT Diffuse Measurements
• Indirect Search for Dark Matter from the center of the Milky Way with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope

Cited by

• First Result from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station: Precision Measurement of the Positron Fraction in Primary Cosmic Rays of 0.5–350 GeV
• Electron and Positron Fluxes in Primary Cosmic Rays Measured with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station
• High Statistics Measurement of the Positron Fraction in Primary Cosmic Rays of 0.5–500 GeV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station
• Three-Dimensional Model of Cosmic-Ray Lepton Propagation Reproduces Data from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station
• Antimatter [wikipedia]