Interdisciplinary Aspects of High-Energy Astrophysics

TL;DR

This paper discusses the interdisciplinary nature of high-energy astrophysics, highlighting how astronomy, cosmology, and particle physics converge to study cosmic rays, Lorentz symmetry, and new photon-like particles.

Contribution

It emphasizes the interconnectedness of multiple disciplines in understanding high-energy phenomena and presents three specific research examples in this context.

Findings

Insights into the origins of highest energy cosmic rays

Constraints on Lorentz symmetry violations

Search results for new light photon-like states

Abstract

Modern astrophysics, especially at GeV energy scales and above is a typical example where several disciplines meet: The location and distribution of the sources is the domain of astronomy. At distances corresponding to significant redshift cosmological aspects such as the expansion history come into play. Finally, the emission mechanisms and subsequent propagation of produced high energy particles is at least partly the domain of particle physics, in particular if new phenomena beyond the Standard Model are probed that require base lines and/or energies unattained in the laboratory. In this contribution we focus on three examples: Highest energy cosmic rays, tests of the Lorentz symmetry and the search for new light photon-like states in the spectra of active galaxies.