| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Total Authors: 2
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| Affiliation: | [1] Max Planck Inst Radioastron, D-53121 Bonn - Germany
[2] Karlsruhe Inst Technol, Dept Phys, Karlsruhe - Germany
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Fis Sao Carlos, BR-05508 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
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| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL; v. 746, n. 1 FEB 10 2012. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 22 |
| Abstract | |
The origin of cosmic rays at all energies is still uncertain. In this paper, we present and explore an astrophysical scenario to produce cosmic rays with energy ranging from below 10(15) to 3 x 10(20) eV. We show here that just our Galaxy and the radio galaxy Cen A, each with their own galactic cosmic-ray particles but with those from the radio galaxy pushed up in energy by a relativistic shock in the jet emanating from the active black hole, are sufficient to describe the most recent data in the PeV to near ZeV energy range. Data are available over this entire energy range from the KASCADE, KASCADE-Grande, and Pierre Auger Observatory experiments. The energy spectrum calculated here correctly reproduces the measured spectrum beyond the knee and, contrary to widely held expectations, no other extragalactic source population is required to explain the data even at energies far below the general cutoff expected at 6 x 10(19) eV, the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min turnoff due to interaction with the cosmological microwave background. We present several predictions for the source population, the cosmic-ray composition, and the propagation to Earth which can be tested in the near future. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 08/04259-0 - High energy cosmic rays |
| Grantee: | Luiz Vitor de Souza Filho |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants |
| FAPESP's process: | 10/07359-6 - Study of cosmic rays of highest energies with the Pierre Auger Observatory |
| Grantee: | Carola Dobrigkeit Chinellato |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Projects - Thematic Grants |