Photonuclear interactions of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and their astrophysical consequences

view Abstract Citations (292) References (1) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Photonuclear interactions of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and their astrophysical consequences. Puget, J. L. ; Stecker, F. W. ; Bredekamp, J. H. Abstract Results are presented for detailed Monte Carlo calculations of the interaction histories of ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray nuclei with intergalactic radiation fields, using improved estimates of these fields and empirical determinations of photonuclear cross sections, including multinuclear disintegrations for nuclei up to Fe-56. Intergalactic and galactic energy-loss rates and nucleon-loss rates for nuclei up to Fe-56 are also given. Astrophysical implications are discussed in terms of expected features in the cosmic-ray spectrum between 10 to the 18th and 10 to the 21st power eV for the universal and supercluster origin hypotheses. The results of these calculations indicate that ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays cannot be universal in origin regardless of whether they are protons or nuclei. Both the supercluster and galactic origin hypotheses, however, are possible regardless of nuclear composition. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: April 1976 DOI: 10.1086/154321 Bibcode: 1976ApJ...205..638P Keywords: Cosmic Rays; High Energy Interactions; Nuclear Reactions; Radiation Effects; Abundance; Energy Dissipation; Heavy Nuclei; Intergalactic Media; Nucleons; Pair Production; Particle Emission; Space Radiation full text sources ADS |