This research represents a major effort to determine the origin of the main component of cosmic rays in galaxies. The detailed distribution of relativistic electrons will be obtained from high resolution synthesis maps of non-thermal radio radiation. Multi- color optical images will define the locations of various stellar populations, the putative source of the cosmic rays. Comparison of these two distributions, together with theoretical modeling of the propagation of the relativistic particles, should determine which stellar population really acts as the source for cosmic ray particles.
