Magnetized local supercluster and the origin of the highest energy cosmic rays

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Physical Review, D

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.59.023001· OSTI ID:295573

Blasi, P; Olinto, A V ^[1]

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1. Department of Astronomy Astrophysics, and Enrico Fermi Institute, The University of Chicago, 5640 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637 (United States)

A sufficiently magnetized local supercluster can explain the spectrum and angular distribution of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays. We show that the spectrum of extragalactic cosmic rays with energies below {approximately}10{sup 20}thinspeV may be due to the diffusive propagation in the local supercluster with fields of {approximately}10{sup {minus}8}{endash}10{sup {minus}7}thinspG. Above {approximately}10{sup 20}thinspeV, cosmic rays propagate in an almost rectilinear way which is evidenced by the change in shape of the spectrum at the highest energies. The fit to the spectrum requires that at least one source be located relatively nearby at {approximately}10{endash}15thinspMpc away from the Milky Way. We discuss the origin of magnetic fields in the local supercluster and the observable predictions of this model. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 295573
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D, Journal Name: Physical Review, D Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 59; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
COSMIC PROTONS
COSMIC RAY PROPAGATION
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
ENERGY SPECTRA
GALAXY CLUSTERS
INTERGALACTIC SPACE