Transition from galactic to extragalactic cosmic rays

TL;DR

This paper examines models of the transition from galactic to extragalactic cosmic rays, analyzing spectral features and composition changes, and discusses the implications of the Standard Model constraints on maximum energies.

Contribution

It compares three models of cosmic ray transition, highlighting the need for a new high-energy galactic component in the ankle model and discussing observational signatures.

Findings

The ankle model requires a new galactic component with higher maximum energy.

Transition signatures include spectral changes and composition shifts.

Standard Model bounds limit the maximum energy of galactic iron nuclei.

Abstract

The study of the transition between galactic and extragalactic cosmic rays can shed more light on the end of the Galactic cosmic rays spectrum and the beginning of the extragalactic one. Three models of transition are discussed: ankle, dip and mixed composition models. All these models describe the transition as an intersection of a steep galactic component with a flat extragalactic one. Severe bounds on these models are provided by the Standard Model of Galactic Cosmic Rays according to which the maximum acceleration energy for Iron nuclei is of the order of $E_{\rm Fe}^{\rm max} \approx 1\times 10^{17}$ eV. In the ankle model the transition is assumed at the ankle, a flat feature in the all particle spectrum which observationally starts at energy $E_a \sim (3 - 4)\times 10^{18}$ eV. This model needs a new high energy galactic component with maximum energy about two orders of magnitude above that of the Standard Model. The origin of such component is discussed. As observations are concerned there are two signatures of the transition: change of energy spectra and mass composition. In all models a heavy galactic component is changed at the transition to a lighter or proton component.