On the Relationship Between Recent Measurements of Cosmic Ray Electrons, Nonthermal Radio Emission from the Galaxy, and the Solar Modulation of Cosmic Rays

Abstract

Utilizing recent measurements of the cosmic ray electron spectrum at the Earth and the effects of solar modulation on this spectrum, possible limits on the local interstellar electron spectrum have been determined. Synchrotron emission from these interstellar electrons is then compared with the local (disk) volume emissivity of nonthermal radio emission as deduced from a study of radio intensity profiles along the galactic equator. The detailed spectrum and magnitude of radio emissivity can be reproduced from the electron spectrum only for very stringent, conditions on the magnitude of the local interstellar magnetic field, and the amount of solar modulation of cosmic rays. Specifically it is found that B -L "'" 7 !-,G, and the residual modulation parameter KR "'" 0·75 GV. If solar modulation effects on the cosmic ray electron component are negligible then an implausibly high local field of "'" 20 !-,G is required.