Energy generation rate densities of ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray nuclei

Yu Jiang, B. Theodore Zhang, Kohta Murase

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

The origin of ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray (UHECR) has been a mystery for many years. In order to identify candidate sources, it is crucial to figure out the energetics of cosmic-ray sources. By fitting the experiment data of cosmic-ray energy spectrum from Pierre Auger Observatory, we calculate the energy generation rate densities for different nuclei species via scanning over various parameters that are related to the source distribution models, injection properties as well as propagation of UHECR. Assuming UHECRs are protons and heavy nuclei produced by extragalactic sources, the energy generation rate density is estimated to be e2Q ~ 0.66-+0038×1044 erg Mpc-3 yr-1 averaging different nuclei species at power-law spectral index s = 2.0 and it varies on different fitting range. For a power-law scaling of the CR production rate with redshift, maximum energy and pure proton injection, dN/dE ? E-sexp(-E/Emax)(1 + z)m, best-fit parameters are s = 2.1, m = 5.0, Emax = 1019.9eV. Hard spectra with strong source redshift evolution and low maximal source energy are slightly favored. We did not find a strong proof of the linear relationship between e2Q and s as shown in Katz et al 2009. We discuss cases of mixed composition models by analyzing the combined fit of spectrum and mass composition Xmax data.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalProceedings of Science
Volume358
StatePublished - 2019
Event36th International Cosmic Ray Conference, ICRC 2019 - Madison, United States
Duration: Jul 24 2019Aug 1 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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