Correlation of the highest-energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects.

Correlation of the highest-energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects.

Using data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory during the past 3.7 years, we demonstrated a correlation between the arrival directions of cosmic rays with energy above 6 x 10(19) electron volts and the positions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) lying within approximately 75 megaparsecs. We reje...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Main Authors: Abraham, J, Abreu, P, Aglietta, M, Aguirre, C, Allard, D, Allekotte, I, Allen, J, Allison, P, Alvarez, C, Alvarez-Muñiz, J, Ambrosio, M, Anchordoqui, L, Andringa, S, Anzalone, A, Aramo, C, Argirò, S, Arisaka, K, Armengaud, E, Arneodo, F, Arqueros, F, Asch, T, Asorey, H, Assis, P, Atulugama, B, Aublin, J
Formato: Journal article
Idioma:English
Publicado: 2007
Descripción
Summary:Using data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory during the past 3.7 years, we demonstrated a correlation between the arrival directions of cosmic rays with energy above 6 x 10(19) electron volts and the positions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) lying within approximately 75 megaparsecs. We rejected the hypothesis of an isotropic distribution of these cosmic rays with at least a 99% confidence level from a prescribed a priori test. The correlation we observed is compatible with the hypothesis that the highest-energy particles originate from nearby extragalactic sources whose flux has not been substantially reduced by interaction with the cosmic background radiation. AGN or objects having a similar spatial distribution are possible sources.

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