Revisiting the distance to the nearest ultrahigh energy cosmic ray source: Effects of extragalactic magnetic fields

Author(s)

Lang, Rodrigo Guedes ; Taylor, Andrew M. ; Ahlers, Markus ; de Souza, Vitor

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PHYSICAL REVIEW D; v. 102, n. 6, p. 11-pg., 2020-09-11.

Abstract

We update the constraints on the location of the nearest ultrahigh energy cosmic ray (UHECR) source. By analyzing recent data from the Pierre Auger Observatory using state-of-the-art CR propagation models, we reaffirm the need of local sources with a distance less than 25-100 Mpc, depending on mass composition. A new fast semianalytical method for the propagation of UHECR in environments with turbulent magnetic fields is developed. The onset of an enhancement and a low-energy magnetic horizon of cosmic rays from sources located within a particular distance range is demonstrated. We investigate the distance to the nearest source, taking into account these magnetic field effects. The results obtained highlight the robustness of our constrained distances to the nearest source. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/15897-1 - Cherenkov Telescope Array - CTA
• Grantee: Luiz Vitor de Souza Filho
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/24943-0 - New physics in astroparticle physics: dark matter and Lorentz invariance
• Grantee: Rodrigo Guedes Lang
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/01653-4 - On the importance of local sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays
• Grantee: Rodrigo Guedes Lang
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate