Are Cosmic Rays Just Electromagnetic Rays from Space?

[cowah22]

Are cosmic rays electromagnetic rays coming down from outer space? I've also read they are actually 90 percent protons, but I'm not sure what they are now. Thanks in advance.

 

[Astronuc]

The solar wind is largerly electrons and protons, and cosmic rays are also largely electrons and protons, but also heavier particles.

One will find references to Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR).

Here is a good reference - http://helios.gsfc.nasa.gov/cosmic.html
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/cosmic_rays.html
http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/Education/wcosray.html

http://www.oulu.fi/~spaceweb/textbook/crays.html

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/astro/cosmic.html

http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/vvc/cosmic_rays.html


Gamma and X-rays are secondary radiations from the cosmic rays (charged particles) interacting with the atoms/nuclei in our atmosphere and the Earth's magnetic field.