Propagation of ultra-high energy protons in regular extragalactic magnetic fields

Abstract

We study the proton flux expected from sources of ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) in the presence of regular extragalactic magnetic fields. It is assumed that a local source of ultra-high energy protons and the magnetic field are all in a wall of matter concentration with dimensions characteristic of the supergalactic plane. For a single source, the observed proton flux and the local cosmic ray energy spectrum depend strongly on the strength of the field, the position of the observer, and the orientation of the field relative to the observer's line of sight. Regular fields also affect protons emitted by sources outside the local magnetic fields structure. We discuss the possibility that such effects could contribute to an explanation of the excess of UHECR above $5.10^{19}$ eV, and the possibility that sources of such particles may be missed if such magnetic fields are not taken into account.

arXiv comment6 pages, 4 figures Comments for revised version: 12 pages, 12 figures. Enlarged discussion of effects on cosmic ray spectrum. Additional discussion focussing on spatial and temporal boundary conditions

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Cited by in corpus (12)

• The Astrophysics of Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays
• Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray Probes of Large Scale Structure and Magnetic Fields
• The optical depth of the Universe to ultrahigh energy cosmic ray scattering in the magnetized large scale structure
• On the Possible Association of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays with Nearby Active Galaxies
• GZK horizon and magnetic fields
• Cosmic Magnetic Fields and Their Influence on Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray Propagation
• Inductive acceleration of UHECRs in sheared relativistic jets
• Active Galactic Nuclei: Sources for ultra high energy cosmic rays?
• Non-Universal Spectra of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray Primaries and Secondaries in a Structured Universe
• Ultra-high energy cosmic rays from Quark Novae
• Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray Nuclei from Individual Magnetized Sources
• Neutrino Detection with the Surface Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory