Propagation of ultra-high energy cosmic rays in magnetic fields

• Grant number: 21/09005-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2021
• End date: September 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Elementary Particle Physics and Fields
• Principal Investigator: Carola Dobrigkeit Chinellato
• Grantee: Lucas Rodrigues Rubio
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin (IFGW). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/10151-2 - Study of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays with the Pierre Auger Observatory upgrade AugerPrime, AP.ESP

Abstract

For a long time, it is known that magnetic fields have a crucial role in Astrophysics. Despite the efforts in the last decades, the Intensity and structure of magnetic fields beyond the solar system are described only qualitatively. The search for the sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays and the study of anisotropies in their arrival-direction distributions require detailed knowledge about the galactic and extragalactic magnetic fields. Furthermore, magnetic fields also impact other cosmological studies, as, for instance, measurements of the cosmic radiation background or the search for dark matter. In this project, we study the fundamental concepts and recent progress in understanding the propagation of ultra-high energy cosmic rays in various configurations of magnetic fields. We intend to simulate the propagation of charged particles of varying energies through these different magnetic field configurations, ranging from low to ultrarelativistic ones. In parallel, the student will be introduced to the most popular simulations of the propagation of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, as CRPropa [1], GALPROP [2], EGCRProp [3]). Finally, we will compare the results of the simulations with recent work of the Pierre Auger Collaboration in the field. (AU)