Cosmic rays from pre-main sequence stars

To reach the Main Sequence, stars transform a part of their gravitational energy into rotational energy, which must then somehow be evacuated. This energy is likely to be released through magnetic interaction with the galactic field. It seems plausible that part of this energy is transformed into cosmic rays. The rate of gravitational energy released by stars presently contracting toward the Main Sequence is evaluated. We show that within large uncertainties an acceleration efficiency of a few per cent may be enough to account for the energy requirement of galactic cosmic rays in the solar vicinity. (author)