Combined fit above 0.1 EeV to the cosmic-ray spectrum and composition measured with the Pierre Auger Observatory

TL;DR

This study models the cosmic-ray spectrum and composition above 10^{17} eV using Pierre Auger Observatory data, proposing a two-population scenario with distinct spectral and compositional characteristics to understand the Galactic to extragalactic transition.

Contribution

It introduces a combined fit of spectrum and composition with two extragalactic source populations, providing insights into the transition from Galactic to extragalactic cosmic rays.

Findings

High-energy population has a hard spectrum and heavier composition.

Low-energy population has a softer spectrum and lighter composition.

The model suggests a magnetic-horizon effect suppresses extragalactic contributions at lower energies.

Abstract

We fit the cosmic-ray spectrum measured with the Pierre Auger Observatory's surface detectors above an energy of $10^{17}$ eV, along with composition information inferred from the depth of shower maximum measured with its fluorescence detectors above an energy threshold of $10^{17.8}$ eV. We consider astrophysical scenarios with two distinct extragalactic source populations: one dominating the flux above a few EeV, and the other dominating at lower energies, with representative nuclei being injected at the sources with power-law spectra and rigidity-dependent cutoffs. The high-energy population exhibits a hard source injection spectrum and a relatively heavy composition, while the low-energy population exhibits a softer spectrum and a lighter composition. Extending the fit down to the low energies considered here shows the potential to test the energy region towards the Galactic to extragalactic transition with the data of the Pierre Auger Observatory. In particular, the Galactic contribution is expected to be still sizable at the lowest energies considered, and the extragalactic contribution needs to become suppressed for decreasing energies, an effect that could naturally result from a magnetic-horizon-induced suppression.