Astrophysical and structural peculiarities of extensive air showers with energy E 0 ≥ 1017 eV from Yakutsk EAS array data

Abstract

The astrophysical characteristics of primary cosmic rays (PCRs) and the structure of extensive air showers (EASs) with energy E 0 ≥ 1017 eV are simultaneously analyzed using the Yakutsk EAS array data acquired in the period 1974–2005. Enhanced and reduced particle fluxes are shown to come from the disk of the Supergalaxy (the Local Supercluster of galaxies) at E 0 ≥ 5 × 1018 eV and E 0 ≤ (2−3) × 1018, respectively. The development of air showers with E 0 ≥ (3−5) × 1018 eV differs significantly from that at lower energies. This is interpreted as a manifestation of the possible interaction between extragalactic PCRs and the matter of this spatial structure.