Constraining the sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays across and above the ankle with the spectrum and composition data measured at the Pierre Auger Observatory
Abstract
In this work we present the interpretation of the energy spectrum and mass composition data as measured by the Pierre Auger Collaboration above 6 × 10[sup]17 eV. We use an astrophysical model with two extragalactic source populations to model the hardening of the cosmic-ray flux at around 5 × 10[sup]18 eV (the so-called "ankle" feature) as a transition between these two components. We find our data to be well reproduced if sources above the ankle emit a mixed composition with a hard spectrum and a low rigidity cutoff. The component below the ankle is required to have a very soft spectrum and a mix of protons and intermediate-mass nuclei. The origin of this intermediate-mass component is not well constrained and it could originate from either Galactic or extragalactic sources. To the aim of evaluating our capability to constrain astrophysical models, we discuss the impact on the fit results of the main experimental systematic uncertainties and of the assumptions about quantities affecting the air shower development as well as the propagation and redshift distribution of injected ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs).
Keywords
ultra-high-energy cosmic rays;Pierre Auger Observatory;extensive air showers;UHECR propagation;UHECR energy spectrum;UHECR mass composition;
Data
| Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Year of publishing: | 2023 |
| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
| Organization: | UNG - University of Nova Gorica |
| UDC: | 52 |
| COBISS: |
161599747
|
| ISSN: | 1475-7516 |
| Views: | 625 |
| Downloads: | 8 |
| Average score: | 0 (0 votes) |
| Metadata: |
|
Other data
| Type (COBISS): | Not categorized |
|---|---|
| Pages: | str. 1-49 |
| Volume: | ǂVol. ǂ2023 |
| Issue: | ǂno. ǂ5, [article no.] 024 |
| Chronology: | May 2023 |
| DOI: | 10.1088/1475-7516/2023/05/024 |
| ID: | 21843027 |
Recommended works:
Constraining the sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays across and above the ankle with the spectrum and composition data measured at the Pierre Auger Observatory
2023,
no subtitle data available
Results from the Pierre Auger Observatory
2019,
no subtitle data available
ǂThe ǂUHECR-FR0 radio galaxy connection
2023,
ǂa ǂmulti-messenger study of energy spectra/composition emission and intergalactic magnetic field propagation
Recent results from the Pierre Auger Observatory
2022,
no subtitle data available
Muons in air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory
2016,
no subtitle data available