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}
}
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