Key to Cosmic Rays: A novel approach to a classical problem (KeyCR)

The injection problem is to find the initial process of heating the plasma electrons to minimum energy needed to initiate a Fermi I acceleration. This is currently the most pressing problem in the cosmic ray physics. Although several injection mechanisms have been proposed, especially due to the lack of reliable tests, it still remains an unsolved problem. In this project, we will focus on the investigation of protostellar jets in our Galaxy as a promising setting for advanced testing of proposed injection mechanisms. The main advantage of these systems lies in existence of two competing electron injection scenarios with very different electromagnetic spectra of the radio waves emitted by hot electrons. In this project we will combine theoretical study with both, observational and experimental approaches. We will investigate how different injection mechanisms translate into the observed radio spectrum of protostellar jets, together with detailed predictions for future observations of these objects by the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) observatory with unprecedented spatial resolution