Inferred Cosmic-Ray Spectrum from Fermi Large Area Telescope γ-Ray Observations of Earth’s Limb

Ackermann, M.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.151103

Inferred Cosmic-Ray Spectrum from Fermi Large Area Telescope γ-Ray Observations of Earth’s Limb

Journal Article · Thu Apr 17 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.151103· OSTI ID:1333179

Ackermann, M.

Recent accurate measurements of cosmic-ray (CR) species by ATIC-2, CREAM, and PAMELA reveal an unexpected hardening in the proton and He spectra above a few hundred GeV, a gradual softening of the spectra just below a few hundred GeV, and a harder spectrum of He compared to that of protons. These newly-discovered features may offer a clue to the origin of high-energy CRs. We use the $${\it Fermi}$$ Large Area Telescope observations of the $$\gamma$$-ray emission from the Earth's limb for an indirect measurement of the local spectrum of CR protons in the energy range $$\sim 90~$$GeV-$6~$TeV (derived from a photon energy range $15~$GeV-$1~$TeV). Our analysis shows that single power law and broken power law spectra fit the data equally well and yield a proton spectrum with index $$2.68 \pm 0.04$$ and $$2.61 \pm 0.08$$ above $$\sim 200~$$GeV, respectively.

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Research Organization:: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP) (SC-25)

Contributing Organization:: Fermi-LAT

DOE Contract Number:: AC02-07CH11359

OSTI ID:: 1333179

Report Number(s):: arXiv:1403.5372; FERMILAB-PUB-14-378-A; 1286734

Journal Information:: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Vol. 112; ISSN 0031-9007

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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