ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 03 02 30 7 v 1 1 6 Fe b 20 03 The Local Interstellar Spectrum of Cosmic Ray Electrons . Direct measurements

ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 03 02 17 7 v 1 1 0 Fe b 20 03 Polarization in GRB Afterglows

ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 03 02 20 1 v 1 1 1 Fe b 20 03 1 Cosmic Rays from PeV to ZeV , Stellar Evolution , Supernova Physics and Gamma Ray Bursts

The recent success of a proposal from some time ago to explain the spectrum of cosmic rays allows some strong conclusions to be made on the physics of supernovae: In the context of this specific proposal to explain the origin of cosmic rays, the mechanism for exploding supernovae of high mass has to be the one proposed by Bisnovatyi-Kogan more than 30 years ago, which was then based on a broade...

ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 03 02 42 4 v 1 2 0 Fe b 20 03 Stochastic appearance in stars and high energy sources

Many phenomena such as stellar variability, stellar explosions, behavior of different kind of X-ray and gamma-ray sources, processes in active galactic nuclei and other astrophysical objects show stochastic features. Brief description of these phenomena is given in this review.

ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 03 02 48 0 v 1 2 4 Fe b 20 03 23 Field and cluster RR Lyrae stars as stellar tracers

We present an overview on pulsation properties of RR Lyrae stars in the Galaxy and in Local Group dwarf galaxies. We discuss the key information that RR Lyrae might provide on their parent population, and in particular on their metallicity distribution.

ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 07 02 37 0 v 1 1 4 Fe b 20 07 Cosmic - ray composition and its relation

An overview is given on the present status of the understanding of the origin of galactic cosmic rays. Recent measurements of charged cosmic rays and photons are reviewed. Their impact on the contemporary knowledge about the sources and acceleration mechanisms of cosmic rays and their propagation through the Galaxy is discussed. Possible reasons for the knee in the energy spectrum and scenarios...