A unique mechanism generating the knee and the ankle in the local galactic zone

Abstract

A new, unique mechanism accounting for the knee and the ankle in the energy spectrum of the cosmic radiation is presented. The interplay of the form and strength of the galactic magnetic field, the rising trend of the nuclear cross sections with energy, the position of the solar cavity within the Galaxy and disc size generates knees and ankles of individual ions. The influence of these observational data on the cosmic-ray intensity at Earth is determined by the appropriate simulation of the cosmic-ray trajectories in the galactic volume. The solid and extensive accord between the computed and measured energy spectra of individual ions and of all ions is discussed and emphasized.