Interactions Of Ultra-high Energy Cosmic Rays Research Articles

Modeling hadronic interactions in ultra-high-energy cosmic rays within astrophysical environments: A parametric approach

Interactions of ultra-high energy cosmic-rays (UHECRs) accelerated in astrophysical environments have been shown to shape the energy production rate of nuclei escaping from the confinement zone. To address the influence of hadronic interactions, Hadronic Interaction Models (HIMs) come into play. In this context, we present a parameterization capable of capturing the outcomes of two distinct HIMs, namely EPOS-LHC and Sibyll2.3d, in terms of secondary fluxes, including escaping nuclei, nucleons, neutrinos, photons, and electrons. Our parameterization is systematically evaluated against the source codes, both at fixed energy and mass, as well as in a physical case scenario. The comparison demonstrates that our parameterization aligns well with the source codes, establishing its reliability as a viable alternative for analytical or fast Monte Carlo approaches dedicated to the study of UHECR propagation within source environments. This suggests the potential for utilizing our parameterization as a practical substitute in studies focused on the intricate dynamics of ultra-high energy cosmic rays.

Energy flow in ultra-high energy cosmic ray interactions as a probe of thermalization: A potential solution to the muon puzzle

Signatures of the formation of a strongly interacting thermalized matter of partons have been observed in nucleus-nucleus, proton-nucleus, and high-multiplicity proton-proton collisions at LHC energies. Strangeness enhancement in such ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions is considered to be a consequence of this thermalized phase, known as quark-gluon plasma (QGP). Simultaneously, proper modeling of hadronic energy fraction in interactions of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) has been proposed as a solution for the “muon puzzle”, an unexpected excess of muons in air showers. These interactions have center-of-mass collision energies of the order of energies attained at the LHC or even higher, indicating that the possibility of a thermalized partonic state cannot be overlooked in UHECR-air interactions. This work investigates the hadronic energy fraction and strangeness enhancement to explore QGP-like phenomena in UHECR-air interactions using various high-energy hadronic models. A core-corona system with a thermalized core undergoing statistical hadronization is considered through the EPOS LHC model. In contrast, PYTHIA 8, QGSJET II-04, and SYBILL 2.3d consider string fragmentation without thermalization. We have found that EPOS LHC gives a better description of strangeness enhancement as compared to other models. We conclude that adequately treating all the relevant effects and further retuning the models is necessary to explain the observed effects.

Exploring the Emission Mechanisms of Mrk 180 with Long-term X-Ray and γ-Ray Data

Markarian (Mrk) 180 is a BL Lacertae object located at a redshift of 0.045 and is a potential candidate for high-energy cosmic-ray acceleration. We have analyzed the Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT) γ-ray data of Mrk 180 collected over a period of 12.8 yr and found no significant enhancement in the flux from the long-term γ-ray light curve. We have also analyzed Swift X-ray, ultraviolet, and optical, and X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) data to construct the multiwavelength spectral energy distribution (SED). The SED has been modeled with one-zone pure leptonic and lepto-hadronic scenarios to explain the underlying physics of multiwavelength emission. The pure leptonic model and the two lepto-hadronic models, viz., (i) line-of-sight interactions of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs; E ≳ 1017 eV) with the cosmic background radiation and (ii) the interactions of relativistic protons with the cold protons in the jet, have been compared in our work. Moreover, an earlier study has associated Mrk 180 with the Telescope Array (TA) hotspot of UHECRs at E > 57 EeV. This speculation motivates us to check whether ultrahigh-energy protons and iron nuclei can reach the Earth from Mrk 180. After comparing the results of our simulation with the current observational data, we find that Mrk 180 is unlikely to be a source of the UHECR events contributing to the TA hotspot for conservative strengths of extragalactic magnetic fields.

Near-future discovery of point sources of ultra-high-energy neutrinos

Upcoming neutrino telescopes may discover ultra-high-energy (UHE) cosmic neutrinos, with energies beyond 100 PeV, in the next 10–20 years. Finding their sources would identify guaranteed sites of interaction of UHE cosmic rays, whose origin is unknown. We search for sources by looking for multiplets of UHE neutrinos arriving from similar directions. Our forecasts are state-of-the-art, geared at neutrino radio-detection in IceCube-Gen2. They account for detector energy and angular response, and for critical, but uncertain backgrounds. Sources at declination of -45° to 0° will be easiest to discover. Discovering even one steady-state source in 10 years would imply that the source has an UHE neutrino luminosity at least larger than about 1043 erg/s (depending on the source redshift evolution). Discovering no transient source would disfavor transient sources brighter than 1053 erg as dominant. Our results aim to inform the design of upcoming detectors.

Production of high-energy neutrinos in binary-neutron-star merger events

High-energy neutral astrophysical messengers, such as neutrinos and photons, can be produced by the interaction of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) with radiation fields, either during extragalactic propagation or within source environments. Neutrinos and gamma-rays can play a crucial role in the study of acceleration mechanisms of cosmic rays. In particular, after being produced, neutrinos leave the source environment and propagate to the Earth without further interactions. They are only subject to energy redshift and flavour oscillation, which makes them bearers of otherwise inaccessible information about their sources. We study high-energy environments of the type that are likely to be the end states of a binary-neutron-star (BNS) merger, and we model their local photon field as a black body at a given temperature. Using a modified version of the Monte Carlo code SimProp v2r4 we simulate the propagation and interaction of UHECRs through these environments. We consider several combinations for the spectral index and high-energy cutoff of the UHECR protons, in order to obtain the escaped neutrino flux. We propagate these fluxes to the Earth and compare to the astrophysical IceCube neutrino flux to obtain constraints on the BNS merger spectra properties, emissivity and density rate.

Constraints on neutrino emission from nearby galaxies using the 2MASS redshift survey and IceCube

The distribution of galaxies within the local universe is characterized by anisotropic features. Observatories searching for the production sites of astrophysical neutrinos can take advantage of these features to establish directional correlations between a neutrino dataset and overdensities in the galaxy distribution in the sky. The results of two correlation searches between a seven-year time-integrated neutrino dataset from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, and the 2MASS Redshift Survey (2MRS) catalog are presented here. The first analysis searches for neutrinos produced via interactions between diffuse intergalactic Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) and the matter contained within galaxies. The second analysis searches for low-luminosity sources within the local universe, which would produce subthreshold multiplets in the IceCube dataset that directionally correlate with galaxy distribution. No significant correlations were observed in either analyses. Constraints are presented on the flux of neutrinos originating within the local universe through diffuse intergalactic UHECR interactions, as well as on the density of standard candle sources of neutrinos at low luminosities.

Search for Delayed and Advanced Particles in the Interaction of Ultrahigh-Energy Cosmic Rays with the Earth’s Atmosphere in the Flow of EAS Muons at the MSU EAS Setup

The results obtained by studying temporal distributions of particles of energy in excess of 5 GeV in extensive air showers (EAS) of energy above $$10^{15}$$ eV at distances shorter than 200 m from the EAS axis with the aim of searches in data from the MSU EAS setup for delayed and advanced new particles that could arise in the interactions of primary cosmic rays in the Earth’s atmosphere are presented. These investigations were performed with the aid of an unshielded ground-based detector and an underground detector shielded by a ground layer 20 m.w.e. thick. It is shown that delayed particles having a delay time between 100 and 300 ns and an exponentially descending temporal distribution with an exponent of 120 ns exhibit a higher ionizing ability than relativistic muons. The flow of such particles is attenuated by the ground layer between the unshielded and shielded detectors by a factor of about 30. Particles moving ahead of the EAS disk were not detected in the present study. Properties of delayed particles are discussed. Special features of calibrations and auxiliary tests confirming data from the present measurements are analyzed.

Ultrahigh-energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions as the Origin of Very High-energy γ-Rays from BL Lacertae Objects

Abstract We explain the observed multiwavelength photon spectrum of a number of BL Lacertae (BL Lac) objects detected at very high energy (VHE, E ≳ 30 GeV), using a lepto-hadronic emission model. The one-zone leptonic emission is employed to fit the synchrotron peak. Subsequently, the SSC spectrum is calculated, such that it extends up to the highest energy possible for the jet parameters considered. The data points beyond this energy, and also in the entire VHE range are well explained using a hadronic emission model. The ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs, E ≳ 0.1 EeV) escaping from the source interact with the extragalactic background light (EBL) during propagation over cosmological distances to initiate electromagnetic cascade down to ∼1 GeV energies. The resulting photon spectrum peaks at ∼1 TeV energies. We consider a random turbulent extragalactic magnetic field (EGMF) with a Kolmogorov power spectrum to find the survival rate of UHECRs within 0.°1 of the direction of propagation in which the observer is situated. We restrict ourselves to an rms value of EGMF, B rms ∼ 10−5 nG, for a significant contribution to the photon spectral energy distribution from UHECR interactions. We found that UHECR interactions on the EBL and secondary cascade emission can fit gamma-ray data from the BL Lac objects we considered at the highest energies. The required luminosity in UHECRs and corresponding jet power are below the Eddington luminosities of the supermassive black holes in these BL Lac objects.

Ultra-high energy neutrinos searches with the Pierre Auger Observatory

In the EeV range, neutrinos are expected to be produced by ultra-high energy cosmic rays interactions with the Cosmic Microwave Background during propagation in the Universe. We report on the search for ultra-high energy neutrinos in data collected with the Surface Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The searches are most efficient in the zenith angle range from 60 degrees to 95 degrees with tau neutrinos skimming in the Earth playing a dominant role. The present non-detection of UHE neutrinos in the Pierre Auger Observatory excludes the most optimistic scenarios of neutrino production in terms of UHE cosmic rays chemical composition and cosmological evolution of the acceleration sites. We also report on the searches for neutrinos in coincidence with the recent Gravitational Wave events detected by LIGO/Virgo.

Astrophysical neutrino production and impact of associated uncertainties in photo-hadronic interactions of UHECRs

High energy neutrinos can be produced by interactions of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) in the dense radiation fields of their sources as well as off the cosmic backgrounds when they propagate through the universe. Multi-messenger interpretations of current measurements deeply rely on the understanding of these interactions. In order to efficiently produce neutrinos in the sources of UHECRs, at least a moderate level of interactions is needed, which means that a nuclear cascade develops if nuclei are involved. On the other hand, the available cross-section data and interaction models turn out to make poor predictions for most nuclei heavier than protons. We show the impact of these uncertainties in state-of-the-art photo-disintegration models and motivate nuclear cross-section measurements. Further, we discuss extensions for photo-meson models currently used in astrophysics and demonstrate the importance of understanding the details of UHECR interaction with the Glashow resonance.

Investigating the influence of diffractive interactions on ultrahigh-energy extensive air showers

The understanding of the basic properties of the ultrahigh-energy extensive air showers is dependent on the description of hadronic interactions in an energy range beyond that probed by the LHC. One of the uncertainties present in the modeling of air showers is the treatment of diffractive interactions, which are dominated by nonperturbative physics and usually described by phenomenological models. These interactions are expected to affect the development of the air showers, since they provide a way of transporting substantial amounts of energy deep in the atmosphere, modifying the global characteristics of the shower profile. In this paper, we investigate the impact of diffractive interactions in the observables that can be measured in hadronic collisions at high energies and ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray interactions. We consider three distinct phenomenological models for the treatment of diffractive physics and estimate the influence of these interactions on the elasticity, number of secondaries, longitudinal air shower profiles and muon densities for proton-air and iron-air collisions at different primary energies. Our results demonstrate that even for the most recent models, diffractive events have a non-negligible effect on the observables and that the distinct approaches for these interactions, present in the phenomenological models, still are an important source of theoretical uncertainty for the description of the extensive air showers.

Interactions of Cosmic Rays around the Universe. Models for UHECR data interpretation

Ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) are expected to be accelerated in astrophysical sources and to travel through extragalactic space before hitting the Earth atmosphere. They interact both with the environment in the source and with the intergalactic photon fields they encounter, causing different processes at various scales depending on the photon energy in the nucleus rest frame. UHECR interactions are sensitive to uncertainties in the extragalactic background spectrum and in the photo-disintegration models.

Probing the origin of cosmic rays with extremely high energy neutrinos using the IceCube Observatory

We have searched for extremely high energy neutrinos using data taken with the IceCube detector between May 2010 and May 2012. Two neutrino induced particle shower events with energies around 1 PeV were observed, as reported previously. In this work, we investigate whether these events could originate from cosmogenic neutrinos produced in the interactions of ultra-high energy cosmic-rays with ambient photons while propagating through intergalactic space. Exploiting IceCube's large exposure for extremely high energy neutrinos and the lack of observed events above 100 PeV, we can rule out the corresponding models at more than 90% confidence level. The model independent quasi-differential 90% CL upper limit, which amounts to $E^2 \phi_{\nu_e + \nu_\mu + \nu_\tau} = 1.2 \times 10^{-7}$ GeV cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ sr$^{-1}$ at 1 EeV, provides the most stringent constraint in the energy range from 10 PeV to 10 EeV. Our observation disfavors strong cosmological evolution of the highest energy cosmic ray sources such as the Fanaroff-Riley type II class of radio galaxies.

A bi-directional fixed-latency clock distribution system

The Askar'yan Radio Array (ARA) Collaboration is constructing a giant array of radio-frequency antennas deployed in the ice near the geographic South Pole. This experiment aims at detecting the extremely weak signal of neutrinos with energies in excess of 100PeV from ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray interactions with the cosmic microwave background radiation. The antennas are located in shallow holes drilled to depths of 200m and need high fidelity RF signal transmission over extended lengths to the data acquisition logic at the surface. We report on a transmission scheme whereby signals are digitized in the ice and the waveforms are digitally sent via high-speed serial links. Reconstruction algorithms require distribution of a low-jitter clock from the surface down to the digitization boards in the holes with knowledge of the overall time delay between the two clock domains. Previously, we designed a clock synchronization system using electrical signaling over CAT5. This year we have updated our solution to optical fibers using high speed transceiver blocks in Spartan-6 FPGAs. This note describes our improvements on the latter solution: technical details as well as methods of maintaining a fixed phase between two clocks after power cycles and resets.

Testing Lorentz invariance with neutrinos from ultrahigh energy cosmic ray interactions

We have previously shown that a very small amount of Lorentz invariance violation (LIV), which suppresses photomeson interactions of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) with cosmic background radiation (CBR) photons, can produce a spectrum of cosmic rays that is consistent with that currently observed by the Pierre Auger Observatory (PAO) and HiRes experiments. Here, we calculate the corresponding flux of high energy neutrinos generated by the propagation of UHECR protons through the CBR in the presence of LIV. We find that LIV produces a reduction in the flux of the highest energy neutrinos and a reduction in the energy of the peak of the neutrino energy flux spectrum, both depending on the strength of the LIV. Thus, observations of the UHE neutrino spectrum provide a clear test for the existence and amount of LIV at the highest energies. We further discuss the ability of current and future proposed detectors make such observations.

Investigation of the properties of the flux and interaction of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays by the method of local-muon-density spectra

A new method for studying extensive air showers is considered. The method is based on the phenomenology of the localmuon density. It is shown that measurement ofmuon-density spectra at various zenith angles makes it possible to obtain information about the energy spectrum, mass composition, and interaction of cosmic rays over a broad range of energies (1015–1018 eV) by using a single array of comparatively small size. The results obtained from a comparison of experimental data on muon bundles from the DECOR coordinate detector with the results of simulation performed under various assumptions on the properties of the primary flux and for various hadron-interaction models are presented, and possible versions of the interpretation of these results are discussed.

TeV Gamma Rays from Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Ray Interactions in the Cores of Active Galactic Nuclei: Lessons from Centaurus A

AbstractTeV gamma rays have been observed from blazars as well as from radio galaxies like M 87 and Centaurus A. In leptonic models, gamma rays above the pair production threshold can escape from the ultrarelativistic jet, because large Lorentz factors reduce the background photon densities compared to those required for isotropic emission. Here we discuss an alternative scenario, where very high energy photons are generated as secondaries from ultrahigh energy cosmic rays interactions in the cores of active galactic nuclei. We show that TeV gamma-rays can escape from the core despite large infrared and ultraviolet backgrounds. For the special case of Centaurus A, we study whether the various existing observations from the far infrared to the ultrahigh energy range can be reconciled within this picture.

Interactions of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays with photons in the galactic center

Ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays passing through the central region of the Galaxy interact with starlight and the infrared photons. Both nuclei and protons generate secondary fluxes of photons and neutrinos on their passage through the central region. We compute the fluxes of these secondary particles, the observations of which can be used to improve one’s understanding of origin and composition of ultrahigh-energy comic rays, especially if the violation of the Greisen–Zatespin–Kuzmin cutoff is confirmed by the future data.

Lorentz invariance violation and the spectrum and source power of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays

Owing to their isotropy, it is generally believed that ultrahigh energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) are extragalactic in origin. It is then expected that interactions of these cosmic rays with photons of the cosmic background radiation (CBR) should produce a drastic reduction in their flux above and energy of about 5 × 10 19 eV (50 EeV), the so-called “GZK effect”. At present, the existence of this effect is uncertain owing to conflicting observational data and small number statistics. We show here that a small amount of Lorentz invariance violation (LIV), which could turn off photomeson interactions of UHECRs with the CBR, could explain the UHECR spectrum as measured by AGASA which shows an excess of UHECRs at energies above 100 EeV. If new results from the Auger array agree with the AGASA spectrum, this may be interpreted as evidence for a small amount of LIV. If, on the other hand, the new results are consistent with the HiRes results favoring a GZK effect, this would place severe constraints on LIV and, by implication, on some Planck scale quantum gravity models. We also discuss the power requirements needed to explain the UHECR spectrum for a range of assumptions, including source evolution and LIV and show that in all cases our results disfavor a γ-ray burst origin for the UHECRs.

Space–time fluctuations and ultra-high energy cosmic ray interactions

The intimate geometry of space–time is expected to suffer stochastic fluctuations as a result of quantum gravitational effects. These fluctuations may induce observable consequences on the propagation of high energy particles over large distances, so that the strength and the characteristics of these fluctuations may be constrained, mainly in the range of energies of interest for cosmic ray physics. While invoked as a possible explanation for the detection of the puzzling cosmic rays with energies in excess of the threshold for photopion production (the so-called super-Greisen–Zatsepin–Kuzmin particles), we demonstrate here that lower energy observations may provide strong constraints on the role of a fluctuating space–time structure.