Correlation of the highest-energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects

dc.contributor.authorAbraham, J.
dc.contributor.authorAbreu, P.
dc.contributor.authorAglietta, M.
dc.contributor.authorAguirre, I.
dc.contributor.authorAllard, D.
dc.contributor.authorAllekotte, I.
dc.contributor.authorAllen, J.
dc.contributor.authorAllison, P.
dc.contributor.authorAlvarez, C.
dc.contributor.authorAlvarez-Muniz, J.
dc.contributor.authorAmbrosio, M.
dc.contributor.authorAnchordoqui, L.
dc.contributor.authorAndringa, S.
dc.contributor.authorAnzalone, A.
dc.contributor.authorAramo, C.
dc.contributor.authorArgiro, S.
dc.contributor.authorArisaka, K.
dc.contributor.authorArmengaud, E.
dc.contributor.authorArneodo, F.
dc.contributor.authorArqueros, F.
dc.contributor.authoret al.
dc.date.issued2007
dc.description© 2007 American Association for the Advancement of Science
dc.description.abstractUsing data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory during the past 3.7 years, we demonstrated a correlation between the arrival directions of cosmic rays with energy above 6 x 1019 electron volts and the positions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) lying within 75 megaparsecs. We rejected the hypothesis of an isotropic distribution of these cosmic rays with at least a 99% confidence level from a prescribed a priori test. The correlation we observed is compatible with the hypothesis that the highest-energy particles originate from nearby extragalactic sources whose flux has not been substantially reduced by interaction with the cosmic background radiation. AGN or objects having a similar spatial distribution are possible sources.
dc.identifier.citationScience, 2007; 318(5852):938-943
dc.identifier.doi10.1126/science.1151124
dc.identifier.issn0036-8075
dc.identifier.issn1095-9203
dc.identifier.orcidBellido Caceres, J. [0000-0002-0833-9194]
dc.identifier.orcidClay, R. [0000-0002-9040-9648]
dc.identifier.orcidDawson, B. [0000-0002-4271-3055]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/45844
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAmer Assoc Advancement Science
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1126/science.1151124
dc.subjectPierre Auger Collaboration
dc.titleCorrelation of the highest-energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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