A Search for Small-Scale Anisotropy of PeV Cosmic Rays

TL;DR

This paper investigates small-scale anisotropy in PeV cosmic rays, analyzing regional flux excesses and exploring potential astrophysical sources to understand the phenomenon's origin.

Contribution

It presents the first analysis of PeV cosmic ray anisotropy using EAS MSU data, identifying regions with excess flux and discussing their possible sources.

Findings

Regions with 3-12 degree excess flux identified

Correlation with potential astrophysical sources examined

Discussion on possible origins of anisotropy provided

Abstract

Recent results of Milagro, Tibet, ARGO-YBJ and IceCube experiments on the small-scale anisotropy of Galactic cosmic rays (CRs) with energies from units up to a few hundred TeV arise a question on a possible nature of the observed phenomenon, as well as on the anisotropy of CRs at higher energies. An analysis of a small-scale anisotropy of CRs with energies at around PeV registered with the EAS MSU array presented in the article, reveals a number of regions with an excessive flux. A typical size of the regions varies from 3 up to 12 degrees. We study correlation of these regions with positions of potential astrophysical sources of CRs and discuss a possible origin of the observed anisotropy.