Li, Be, B and cosmic rays in the galaxy

Abstract

A short overview is presented of current issues concerning the production and evolution of Li, Be and B in the Milky Way. It is argued that the currently popular idea that Galactic Cosmic rays are accelerated inside metal-rich superbubbles (which leads "naturally" to the production of primary Be and B, as observed) encounters the same problems as the previously popular idea of supernovae accelerating their own ejecta. A major challenge to theories of light element production is presented by the recent (and still preliminary) data suggesting a surprisingly high and ∼constant abundance of 6Li in halo stars; attempts to explain such a "plateau" are critically examined. © 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.