Pulsars and the origin of cosmic rays

Abstract
The distribution of pulsars and their main properties are discussed. Spin and magnetic fields provide them with the means of radiating radio pulses, and there are indications that these are due to relativistic particles radiating in magnetic fields. A contribution to the cosmic rays may be produced at the same time, especially by the youngest pulsars. On energetic grounds this could be a large contribution, but the composition expected would be predominantly iron, while the observed cosmic-ray abundances follow rather closely the general abundance distribution of most elements. The best suggestion at the present time is that the apparent shoulder in the general cosmic-ray spectrum seen around 1015 eV may represent the addition of the pulsars. In that case this feature should be mainly iron and its spallation products.
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