Foreground and source of a cluster of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays

Glennys R. Farrar; Andreas A. Berlind; David W. Hogg

doi:10.1086/504711

Foreground and source of a cluster of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays

Glennys R. Farrar, Andreas A. Berlind, David W. Hogg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We investigate the origin of a nearly pointlike cluster of five ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) in the vicinity of R.A. ≈169°2 and decl. ≈56°8, using Sloan Digital Sky Survey and other data. No particular source candidates are found near the estimated source direction, but the direction is exceptional in having a likely merging pair of galaxy clusters at 140 h^-1 Mpc, with an unusually low foreground density. Large-scale shocks or another product of the merging galaxy clusters may accelerate the UHECRs, or the merging galaxy clusters may be coincidental and the UHECRs may be accelerated in a rare event of an unexceptional progenitor. Low magnetic deflections in the foreground void may explain why this is the only identified pointlike cluster of so many UHECRs.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L89-L93
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	642
Issue number	2 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/504711
State	Published - May 10 2006

Keywords

Cosmic rays
Large-scale structure of universe

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1086/504711

Cite this

@article{823ffa31868f44ed9553b55572e33675,

title = "Foreground and source of a cluster of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays",

abstract = "We investigate the origin of a nearly pointlike cluster of five ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) in the vicinity of R.A. ≈169°2 and decl. ≈56°8, using Sloan Digital Sky Survey and other data. No particular source candidates are found near the estimated source direction, but the direction is exceptional in having a likely merging pair of galaxy clusters at 140 h-1 Mpc, with an unusually low foreground density. Large-scale shocks or another product of the merging galaxy clusters may accelerate the UHECRs, or the merging galaxy clusters may be coincidental and the UHECRs may be accelerated in a rare event of an unexceptional progenitor. Low magnetic deflections in the foreground void may explain why this is the only identified pointlike cluster of so many UHECRs.",

keywords = "Cosmic rays, Large-scale structure of universe",

author = "Farrar, {Glennys R.} and Berlind, {Andreas A.} and Hogg, {David W.}",

year = "2006",

month = may,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1086/504711",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "642",

pages = "L89--L93",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "2 II",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Foreground and source of a cluster of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays

AU - Farrar, Glennys R.

AU - Berlind, Andreas A.

AU - Hogg, David W.

PY - 2006/5/10

Y1 - 2006/5/10

N2 - We investigate the origin of a nearly pointlike cluster of five ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) in the vicinity of R.A. ≈169°2 and decl. ≈56°8, using Sloan Digital Sky Survey and other data. No particular source candidates are found near the estimated source direction, but the direction is exceptional in having a likely merging pair of galaxy clusters at 140 h-1 Mpc, with an unusually low foreground density. Large-scale shocks or another product of the merging galaxy clusters may accelerate the UHECRs, or the merging galaxy clusters may be coincidental and the UHECRs may be accelerated in a rare event of an unexceptional progenitor. Low magnetic deflections in the foreground void may explain why this is the only identified pointlike cluster of so many UHECRs.

AB - We investigate the origin of a nearly pointlike cluster of five ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) in the vicinity of R.A. ≈169°2 and decl. ≈56°8, using Sloan Digital Sky Survey and other data. No particular source candidates are found near the estimated source direction, but the direction is exceptional in having a likely merging pair of galaxy clusters at 140 h-1 Mpc, with an unusually low foreground density. Large-scale shocks or another product of the merging galaxy clusters may accelerate the UHECRs, or the merging galaxy clusters may be coincidental and the UHECRs may be accelerated in a rare event of an unexceptional progenitor. Low magnetic deflections in the foreground void may explain why this is the only identified pointlike cluster of so many UHECRs.

KW - Cosmic rays

KW - Large-scale structure of universe

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33746058659&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33746058659&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/504711

DO - 10.1086/504711

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:33746058659

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 642

SP - L89-L93

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 II

ER -

Foreground and source of a cluster of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this