Physical conditions in nearby active galaxies correlated with ultra-high-energy cosmic rays detected by the Pierre Auger Observatory

TL;DR

This study reevaluates the correlation between nearby active galaxies and ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, suggesting that individual source properties challenge the acceleration of protons and question previous anisotropy interpretations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of physical conditions in correlated galaxies, questioning the proton acceleration hypothesis and the interpretation of anisotropy signals.

Findings

Proton acceleration to observed energies is unlikely in these galaxies.

Heavy nuclei would be deflected, disrupting the correlation.

The results challenge the Auger interpretation of the anisotropy signal.

Abstract

We analyze the active-galaxy correlation reported in 2007 by the Pierre Auger Collaboration. The signal diminishes if the correlation-function approach (counting all "source-event" pairs and not only "nearest neighbours") is used, suggesting that the correlation may reveal individual sources and not their population. We analyze available data on physical conditions in these individual correlated sources and conclude that acceleration of protons to the observed energies is hardly possible in any of these galaxies, while heavier nuclei would be deflected by the Galactic magnetic field thus spoiling the correlation. Our results question the Auger interpretation of the reported anisotropy signal but do not contradict to its explanation with intermediate-mass nuclei accelerated in Cen A.