Astroparticle Physics Key Issues
Delve into the realm of astroparticle physics exploring cosmic rays, particle acceleration, and high-energy phenomena. Discussing universal acceleration processes, the origin of magnetic fields, and more. Discover the mysteries of TeV gamma rays and energy partitioning in this fascinating field of study.
Astroparticle Physics Key Issues
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Astroparticle PhysicsKey Issues Jan Kuijpers Dep. of Astrophysics/ HEFIN University of Nijmegen Astroparticle Physics
Cosmic Ray Energy Spectrum _10-1 Flux (m2 sr s GeV)-1 _10-25 __(1 per m2-sec) E-2.7 E-3 Knee __(1 per m2-year) Flux x E2.75 e- up to 1 TeV, only 1 % Ankle (1 per km2-year)__ LHC | Swordy | | 109 Energy (eV) 1020 | | 1 Energy (GeV/n) 107 Astroparticle Physics
Cosmic Rays Direct detection: • Nuclei, power-law • Gamma-rays up to TeV (AGN, pulsars) • Neutrinos (solar, SN1987a) Indirect detection from radiation: optically thin synchrotron, inverse Compton, bremsstrahlung: • Electrons: power-law –2/–2.7/-3 over many decades in extragalactic radio galaxies. Also in extragal. GRBs, galactic SNRs, X-ray binaries, jets. • Protons (X-ray and MeV galactic) Main question: 1: UNIVERSAL ACCELERATION PROCESS? Astroparticle Physics
Particle acceleration processes De Hoffmann- Teller frame 1 2 • Shock waves (Bell,..1977; Fermi 1954): u2 u1 SNRs: vs~few 104 km/s GRBs: ~300 Jets: Radio galaxies X-ray binaries Astroparticle Physics
Magnetars Pulsars Stellar mass black holes • 109 G_ • B • 10-9 G_ Emax= ZeBL Flare stars Massive black holes 1 AU 1 pc 1 kpc 1 Mpc | | | | Size (km) 10 10 Astroparticle Physics
2: TeV gamma rays from electrons or protons? More questions: Astroparticle Physics
Case study: L3+Cosmics: search for TeV photons from GRBs Significance of muon excess GRB 990903 from 64 EGRET unidentified 30 MeV/30 GeV GRSs # muons per square degree per sec galactic coordin. Van den Akker 2004 PhD Thesis KUN not corrected for detector accept. Astroparticle Physics
3: Origin e plasma? C Rotation axis Linear acceleration of primary electrons in unipolar inductor (neutron stars, accretion discs, black hole collapse + torus) and subsequent pair creation in strong B or photon background. Pair plasma production in circuit C C Astroparticle Physics
Case study: Coherent emission from particle beams 1000 950 varying magnetic wiggler E (V/m) t (10-5 sec) f (10-10 Hz) P (1013 W) Radio pulsars as Free Electron Lasers Fung & Kuijpers, 2004, A&A subm. t (10-5 sec) Astroparticle Physics
4: Origin of magnetic field? Poynting flux dominated Magnetized wind Jets Dynamo accretion disk compact object 5: Origin energy fireball? • - Magnetic reconnection • Plasma turbulence • Stochastic acceleration Astroparticle Physics
Case study: Coupling gravitational waves – mhd waves GWx GW+ z z x y Alfven wave Magnetosonic wave S F G A G Astroparticle Physics Moortgat & Kuijpers 2003 A&A 402, 905 ; 2004 Phys Rev D, subm.
6. Is there a high energy CR cut-off? Photopair production Photopion production | GZK cutoff Cronin 2004 Astroparticle Physics
7. Origin of highest energy CRs? Conflicting observ. Inconclusive statistics Cronin 2004 Astroparticle Physics
Case study: L3+Cosmics: composition – forward cross-section muons muon mul;tiplicity Comparison to Monte Carlo CORSIKA Wilkens, 2003, PhD Thesis KUN Astroparticle Physics
Case study: L3+Cosmics: muon spectrum at sea level Accurate absolute spectrum Charge ratio Petersen, 2002 PhD Thesis, KUN Astroparticle Physics
Air showers Gamma ray: ----- Fe: _______ Protons: ______ LOFAR cornerstone: study of CRs and their sources Astroparticle Physics Cronin 2004
Outreach opportunities: NAHSA – HiSPARC - LOFAR High schools & cosmic rays: detector construction, observations, analysis Timmermans et al, 2004, KUN Astroparticle Physics
Key questions in astroparticle physics: • ORIGINS CRs (HADRONS+LEPTONS): • SNRs, BHs, NSs, DARK MATTER, DARK ENERGY • UNIVERSAL ACCELERATION PROCESS? • TeV GAMMA RAYS FROM ELECTRONS OR PROTONS? • ORIGIN e PLASMA? • ORIGIN OF MAGNETIC FIELD? • ENERGY PARTITIONING • IS THERE A HIGH ENERGY CR CUT-OFF? • QUEST FOR HIGHEST ENERGY CRs AND SOURCES 2 communities astroparticle detectorsLOFAR + ANTARES Astroparticle Physics