Correlation of the highest energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects

Using data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory during the past 3.7 years, we demonstrated a correlation between the arrival directions of cosmic rays with energy above 6 × 1019 electron volts and the positions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) lying within ∼75 megaparsecs. We rejected the hypoth...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Badagnani, Daniel Omar, Dova, María Teresa, Epele, Luis Nicolás, Gómez Albarracín, Flavia Alejandra, Grunfeld, Christian Martín, Manceñido, Mónica E., Mariazzi, Analisa Gabriela, Moreno, Juan Cruz, Sciutto, Sergio Juan, Tueros, Matías Jorge, Veiga, Alejandro Luis, Wahlberg, Hernán Pablo, The Pierre Auger Collaboration
Formato: Articulo Preprint
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2007
Materias:
Física
Correlation
Cosmic rays
Extragalactic sources
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/127997
Aporte de:
SEDICI (UNLP) de Universidad Nacional de La Plata
Descripción
Sumario:Using data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory during the past 3.7 years, we demonstrated a correlation between the arrival directions of cosmic rays with energy above 6 × 1019 electron volts and the positions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) lying within ∼75 megaparsecs. We rejected the hypothesis of an isotropic distribution of these cosmic rays with at least a 99% confidence level from a prescribed a priori test. The correlation we observed is compatible with the hypothesis that the highest-energy particles originate from nearby extragalactic sources whose flux has not been substantially reduced by interaction with the cosmic background radiation. AGN or objects having a similar spatial distribution are possible sources.

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