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Title: Correlation of the highest energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects

Abstract

Using data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory during the past 3.7 years, we demonstrate that there is a correlation between the arrival directions of cosmic rays with energy above {approx} 6 x 10{sup 19} eV and the positions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) lying within {approx} 75 Mpc. We reject the hypothesis of an isotropic distribution of these cosmic rays at over 99% confidence level from a prescribed a priori test. The correlation we observe is compatible with the hypothesis that the highest energy particles originate from nearby extragalactic sources whose flux has not been significantly reduced by interaction with the cosmic background radiation. AGN or objects having a similar spatial distribution are possible sources.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
922304
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB-07-579-AD-CD-E-TD
Journal ID: ISSN 0193-4511; SCEHDK; arXiv eprint number arXiv:0711.2256; TRN: US200803%%427
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-07CH11359
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Science 318:938-943,2007
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 318; Journal ID: ISSN 0193-4511
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; BACKGROUND RADIATION; DISTRIBUTION; HYPOTHESIS; NUCLEI; SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION; Astrophysics

Citation Formats

Abraham, J, Abreu, P, Aglietta, M, Aguirre, C, Allard, D, Allekotte, I, Allen, J, Allison, P, Alvarez, C, Alvarez-Muniz, J, Ambrosio, M, and /Balseiro Inst., San Carlos de Bariloche /Buenos Aires, CONICET /CNEA, Buenos Aires /Pierre Auger Observ. /La Plata U. /Natl. Tech. U., San Rafael /Adelaide U. /Catholic U. of Bolivia, La Paz /Bolivia U. /Rio de Janeiro, CBPF /Sao Paulo U. Correlation of the highest energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1126/science.1151124.
Abraham, J, Abreu, P, Aglietta, M, Aguirre, C, Allard, D, Allekotte, I, Allen, J, Allison, P, Alvarez, C, Alvarez-Muniz, J, Ambrosio, M, & /Balseiro Inst., San Carlos de Bariloche /Buenos Aires, CONICET /CNEA, Buenos Aires /Pierre Auger Observ. /La Plata U. /Natl. Tech. U., San Rafael /Adelaide U. /Catholic U. of Bolivia, La Paz /Bolivia U. /Rio de Janeiro, CBPF /Sao Paulo U. Correlation of the highest energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects. United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1151124
Abraham, J, Abreu, P, Aglietta, M, Aguirre, C, Allard, D, Allekotte, I, Allen, J, Allison, P, Alvarez, C, Alvarez-Muniz, J, Ambrosio, M, and /Balseiro Inst., San Carlos de Bariloche /Buenos Aires, CONICET /CNEA, Buenos Aires /Pierre Auger Observ. /La Plata U. /Natl. Tech. U., San Rafael /Adelaide U. /Catholic U. of Bolivia, La Paz /Bolivia U. /Rio de Janeiro, CBPF /Sao Paulo U. 2007. "Correlation of the highest energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects". United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1151124. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/922304.
@article{osti_922304,
title = {Correlation of the highest energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects},
author = {Abraham, J and Abreu, P and Aglietta, M and Aguirre, C and Allard, D and Allekotte, I and Allen, J and Allison, P and Alvarez, C and Alvarez-Muniz, J and Ambrosio, M and /Balseiro Inst., San Carlos de Bariloche /Buenos Aires, CONICET /CNEA, Buenos Aires /Pierre Auger Observ. /La Plata U. /Natl. Tech. U., San Rafael /Adelaide U. /Catholic U. of Bolivia, La Paz /Bolivia U. /Rio de Janeiro, CBPF /Sao Paulo U.},
abstractNote = {Using data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory during the past 3.7 years, we demonstrate that there is a correlation between the arrival directions of cosmic rays with energy above {approx} 6 x 10{sup 19} eV and the positions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) lying within {approx} 75 Mpc. We reject the hypothesis of an isotropic distribution of these cosmic rays at over 99% confidence level from a prescribed a priori test. The correlation we observe is compatible with the hypothesis that the highest energy particles originate from nearby extragalactic sources whose flux has not been significantly reduced by interaction with the cosmic background radiation. AGN or objects having a similar spatial distribution are possible sources.},
doi = {10.1126/science.1151124},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/922304}, journal = {Science 318:938-943,2007},
issn = {0193-4511},
number = ,
volume = 318,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007},
month = {Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007}
}

Works referenced in this record:

The Origin of Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays
journal, September 1984


Arrival Directions of the Most Energetic Cosmic Rays
journal, October 1995