Plasma effects on extragalactic ultra-high-energy cosmic ray hadron beams in cosmic voids

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/789/1/84· OSTI ID:22356457

Krakau, S.

The linear instability of an ultrarelativistic hadron beam (Γ {sub b} ≈ 10{sup 6}) in the unmagnetized intergalactic medium (IGM) is investigated with respect to the excitation of collective electrostatic and aperiodic electromagnetic fluctuations. This analysis is important for the propagation of extragalactic ultrarelativistic cosmic rays (E > 10{sup 15} eV) from their distant sources to Earth. We calculate minimum instability growth times that are orders of magnitude shorter than the cosmic ray propagation time in the IGM. Due to nonlinear effects, especially the modulation instability, the cosmic ray beam stabilizes and can propagate with nearly no energy loss through the IGM.

• OSTI ID: 22356457
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 789, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMIC RAY PROPAGATION
ENERGY LOSSES
EXCITATION
FLUCTUATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
TURBULENCE