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Title: Observation of a large-scale anisotropy in the arrival directions of cosmic rays above 8 × 10 18 eV

Abstract

We report that cosmic rays are atomic nuclei arriving from outer space that reach the highest energies observed in nature. Clues to their origin come from studying the distribution of their arrival directions. Using $$3 \times 10^4$$ cosmic rays above $$8 \times 10^{18}$$ electron volts, recorded with the Pierre Auger Observatory from a total exposure of 76,800 square kilometers steradian year, we report an anisotropy in the arrival directions. The anisotropy, detected at more than the 5.2$$\sigma$$ level of significance, can be described by a dipole with an amplitude of $$6.5_{-0.9}^{+1.3}$$% towards right ascension $$\alpha_{d} = 100 \pm 10$$ degrees and declination $$\delta_{d} = -24_{-13}^{+12}$$ degrees. Lastly, that direction indicates an extragalactic origin for these ultra-high energy particles.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
Contributing Org.:
The Pierre Auger Collaboration
OSTI Identifier:
1395473
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB-17-354; arXiv:1709.07321
Journal ID: ISSN 0036-8075; 1624662
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-07CH11359
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Science
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 357; Journal Issue: 6357; Journal ID: ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher:
AAAS
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS

Citation Formats

Aab, Alexander, and et al. Observation of a large-scale anisotropy in the arrival directions of cosmic rays above 8 × 10 18 eV. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1126/science.aan4338.
Aab, Alexander, & et al. Observation of a large-scale anisotropy in the arrival directions of cosmic rays above 8 × 10 18 eV. United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aan4338
Aab, Alexander, and et al. Fri . "Observation of a large-scale anisotropy in the arrival directions of cosmic rays above 8 × 10 18 eV". United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aan4338. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1395473.
@article{osti_1395473,
title = {Observation of a large-scale anisotropy in the arrival directions of cosmic rays above 8 × 10 18 eV},
author = {Aab, Alexander and et al.},
abstractNote = {We report that cosmic rays are atomic nuclei arriving from outer space that reach the highest energies observed in nature. Clues to their origin come from studying the distribution of their arrival directions. Using $3 \times 10^4$ cosmic rays above $8 \times 10^{18}$ electron volts, recorded with the Pierre Auger Observatory from a total exposure of 76,800 square kilometers steradian year, we report an anisotropy in the arrival directions. The anisotropy, detected at more than the 5.2$\sigma$ level of significance, can be described by a dipole with an amplitude of $6.5_{-0.9}^{+1.3}$% towards right ascension $\alpha_{d} = 100 \pm 10$ degrees and declination $\delta_{d} = -24_{-13}^{+12}$ degrees. Lastly, that direction indicates an extragalactic origin for these ultra-high energy particles.},
doi = {10.1126/science.aan4338},
journal = {Science},
number = 6357,
volume = 357,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Sep 22 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Fri Sep 22 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: Normalized rate of events as a function of right ascension. Normalized rate for 32,187 events with E ≥ 8 EeV, as a function of right ascension (integrated in declination). Error bars are 1σ uncertainties. The solid line shows the first-harmonic modulation from Table 1, which displays good agreementmore » with the data (χ2/n = 10.5/10); the dashed line shows a constant function.« less

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