Constraints on the Hosts of UHECR Accelerators

Abstract

Interactions of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) in the surroundings of their accelerators can naturally explain the observed spectrum and composition of UHECRs, including the abundance of protons below the ankle. Here we show that astrophysical properties of the UHECR source environment such as the temperature, size, and magnetic field can be constrained by UHECR and neutrino data. Applying this to candidate sources with a simple structure shows that starburst galaxies are consistent with these constraints, but galaxy clusters are in tension with them. For multicomponent systems like active galactic nuclei and gamma-ray bursts, the results are indicative, but a customized analysis is needed for definitive conclusions.