Ultrahigh energy cosmic ray probes of large scale structure and magnetic fields

Günter Sigl, Francesco Miniati, and Torsten A. Enßlin
Phys. Rev. D 70, 043007 – Published 25 August 2004
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

We study signatures of a structured universe in the multi-pole moments, auto-correlation function, and cluster statistics of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays above 1019eV. We compare scenarios where the sources are distributed homogeneously or according to the baryon density distribution obtained from a cosmological large scale structure simulation. The influence of extragalactic magnetic fields is studied by comparing the case of negligible fields with fields expected to be produced along large scale shocks with a maximal strength consistent with observations. We confirm that strongly magnetized observers would predict considerable anisotropy on large scales, which is already in conflict with current data. In the best fit scenario only the sources are strongly magnetized, although deflection can still be considerable, of order 20° up to 1020eV, and a pronounced GZK cutoff is predicted. We then discuss signatures for future large scale full-sky detectors such as the Pierre Auger and EUSO projects. Auto-correlations are sensitive to the source density only if magnetic fields do not significantly affect propagation. In contrast, for a weakly magnetized observer, degree scale auto-correlations below a certain level indicate magnetized discrete sources. It may be difficult even for next generation experiments to distinguish between structured and unstructured source distributions.

  • Received 7 January 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.70.043007

©2004 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Günter Sigl1,2, Francesco Miniati3, and Torsten A. Enßlin3

  • 1GReCO, Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, C.N.R.S., 98 bis boulevard Arago, F-75014 Paris, France
  • 2Fédération de Recherche Astroparticule et Cosmologie, Université Paris 7, 2 place Jussieu, 75251 Paris Cedex 05, France
  • 3Max-Planck Institut für Astrophysik, Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 1, 85741 Garching, Germany

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 70, Iss. 4 — 15 August 2004

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×