Mapping the most energetic cosmic rays

TL;DR

This study analyzes the correlation between ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and nearby active galactic nuclei, finding significant associations that suggest sources within 120 Mpc and implications for cosmic ray propagation and origin.

Contribution

It introduces a novel right ascension resonance method to identify correlations without predefined association windows, revealing strong links between cosmic rays and nearby AGNs.

Findings

Chance of accidental correlation below 1 in 10^5

Significant correlation with FRI-like radio galaxies within 75 Mpc

Cosmic rays are scattered by about 3-4 degrees en route

Abstract

The correlation between the directions of optically-detected AGNs within 75 Mpc and the arrival directions of cosmic rays above 57 EeV detected by the Auger collaboration up to August 2007 is examined using uniform-exposure plots and a form of right ascension resonance which does not require choice of an association window radius. Using the latter, the chance of accidental correlation is found to be well below 1 in 10^5 even without using 3.2 degree windows; the correlation with FRI-like radio galaxies within 75 Mpc, listed by Nagar & Matulich (which are in AGN clusters), is separately just as significant; and a correlation can also be found in other data at a lower energy. Cen A is currently inactive at this energy, as more distant radio galaxies are so prominent. The efficacy of a 57 EeV cut to select this revelatory (proton) sample of the Auger data may be almost accidental and not robust. The cosmic rays in the Auger sample seem to be scattered by ~3-4 degrees en route, from about 50 Mpc, and in one relatively well probed sky region there may be a 4 degree systematic deflection in a Bz component of the magnetic field in the galactic halo. The sources appear to be mostly within 120 Mpc. This is compatible with a GZK survival horizon, but only if (a) the Auger energies are underestimated by ~25% and (b) the sudden fall in the energy spectrum is not simply a GZK effect but essentially reflects an energy cut-off in the sources.