Cosmic-ray transport from AMS-02 B/C data: benchmark models and interpretation

Understand

This article aims at establishing new benchmark scenarios for Galactic cosmic-ray propagation in the GV-TV rigidity range, based on fits to the AMS-02 B/C data with the USINE v3.5 propagation code.

• We employ a new fitting procedure, cautiously taking into account data systematic error correlations in different rigidity bins and considering Solar modulation potential and leading nuclear cross-section as nuisance parameters.
• We delineate specific low, intermediate, and high-rigidity ranges that can be related to both features in the data and peculiar microphysics mechanisms resulting in spectral breaks.
• We single out a scenario which yields excellent fits to the data and includes all the presumably relevant complexity, the BIG model.