131. Constraining the sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays across and above the ankle with the spectrum and composition data measured at the Pierre Auger ObservatoryA. Abdul Halim, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: In this work we present the interpretation of the energy spectrum and mass composition data as measured by the Pierre Auger Collaboration above 6 × 10[sup]17 eV. We use an astrophysical model with two extragalactic source populations to model the hardening of the cosmic-ray flux at around 5 × 10[sup]18 eV (the so-called "ankle" feature) as a transition between these two components. We find our data to be well reproduced if sources above the ankle emit a mixed composition with a hard spectrum and a low rigidity cutoff. The component below the ankle is required to have a very soft spectrum and a mix of protons and intermediate-mass nuclei. The origin of this intermediate-mass component is not well constrained and it could originate from either Galactic or extragalactic sources. To the aim of evaluating our capability to constrain astrophysical models, we discuss the impact on the fit results of the main experimental systematic uncertainties and of the assumptions about quantities affecting the air shower development as well as the propagation and redshift distribution of injected ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, Pierre Auger Observatory, extensive air showers, UHECR propagation, UHECR energy spectrum, UHECR mass composition Published in RUNG: 18.08.2023; Views: 884; Downloads: 8 Full text (2,39 MB) This document has many files! More... |
132. Search for photons above ▫$10^19$▫ eV with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger ObservatoryP. Abreu, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, Lukas Zehrer, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: We use the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory to search for air showers initiated by photons with an energy above 10[sup]19 eV. Photons in the zenith angle range from 30 deg. to 60 deg. can be identified in the overwhelming background of showers initiated by charged cosmic rays through the broader time structure of the signals induced in the water-Cherenkov detectors of the array and the steeper lateral distribution of shower particles reaching ground. Applying the search method to data collected between January 2004 and June 2020, upper limits at 95% CL are set to an E[sup]-2 diffuse flux of ultra-high energy photons above 10[sup]19 eV, 2 × 10[sup]19 eV and 4 × 10[sup]19 eV amounting to 2.11 × 10[sup]-3, 3.12 × 10[sup]-4 and 1.72 × 10[sup]-4 km-2 sr-1 yr-1, respectively. While the sensitivity of the present search around 2 × 10[sup]19 eV approaches expectations of cosmogenic photon fluxes in the case of a pure-proton composition, it is one order of magnitude above those from more realistic mixed-composition models. The inferred limits have also implications for the search of super-heavy dark matter that are discussed and illustrated. Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, UHE photons, Pierre Auger Observatory, extensive air showers, water Cherenkov detectors Published in RUNG: 18.08.2023; Views: 908; Downloads: 12 Full text (2,46 MB) This document has many files! More... |
133. Search for ultra-high-energy photons from gravitational wave sources with the Pierre Auger ObservatoryA. Abdul Halim, P. Abreu, M. Aglietta, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: visokoenergijski fotoni, gravitacijski valovi, observatorij P. Auger Published in RUNG: 21.07.2023; Views: 999; Downloads: 5 Full text (636,37 KB) This document has many files! More... |
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135. Limits to gauge coupling in the dark sector set by the nonobservation of instanton-induced decay of super-heavy dark matter in the Pierre Auger Observatory dataP. Abreu, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, Lukas Zehrer, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: ultra-high energy cosmic rays, UHE photon flux upper limits, super-heavy dark matter models, instantons, Pierre Auger Observatory Published in RUNG: 09.02.2023; Views: 1230; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
136. Cosmological implications of photon-flux upper limits at ultrahigh energies in scenarios of Planckian-interacting massive particles for dark matterP. Abreu, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, Lukas Zehrer, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: ultra-high energy, cosmic rays, Pierre Auger Observatory, UHE photon flux upper limits, super-heavy dark matter models Published in RUNG: 09.02.2023; Views: 1304; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
137. A catalog of the highest-energy cosmic rays recorded during Phase I of operation of the Pierre Auger ObservatoryA. Abdul Halim, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: A catalog containing details of the highest-energy cosmic rays recorded through the detection of extensive air
showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory is presented with the aim of opening the data to detailed examination.
Descriptions of the 100 showers created by the highest-energy particles recorded between 2004 January 1 and 2020
December 31 are given for cosmic rays that have energies in the range 78–166 EeV. Details are also given on a
further nine very energetic events that have been used in the calibration procedure adopted to determine the energy
of each primary. A sky plot of the arrival directions of the most energetic particles is shown. No interpretations of
the data are offered. Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, cosmic ray air showers, experimental data, catalogs, Pierre Auger Observatory Published in RUNG: 09.02.2023; Views: 1399; Downloads: 16 Full text (8,87 MB) This document has many files! More... |
138. Searches for Ultra-High-Energy Photons at the Pierre Auger ObservatoryP. Abreu, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, Lukas Zehrer, 2022, review article Abstract: The Pierre Auger Observatory, being the largest air-shower experiment in the world, offers an unprecedented exposure to neutral particles at the highest energies. Since the start of data taking more than 18 years ago, various searches for ultra-high-energy (UHE, E > 10[sup]17 eV) photons have been performed: either for a diffuse flux of UHE photons, for point sources of UHE photons or for UHE photons associated with
transient events like gravitational wave events. In the present paper, we summarize these searches and review
the current results obtained using the wealth of data collected by the Pierre Auger Observatory. Keywords: photons, ultra-high energies, air showers, Pierre Auger Observatory, upper limits, transients Published in RUNG: 03.01.2023; Views: 1523; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
139. Arrival directions of cosmic rays above 32 EeV from phase one of the Pierre Auger ObservatoryP. Abreu, M. Aglietta, J. M. Albury, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Samo Stanič, Darko Veberič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, Lukas Zehrer, 2022, original scientific article Keywords: Kozmični žarki, ekstremne energije, vpadne smeri, Observatorij Pierre Auger Published in RUNG: 21.09.2022; Views: 1352; Downloads: 31 Link to full text This document has many files! More... |
140. Multi-messenger studies with the Pierre Auger ObservatoryLukas Zehrer, Andrej Filipčič, Gašper Kukec Mezek, Jon Paul Lundquist, Samo Stanič, Marta Trini, Serguei Vorobiov, Marko Zavrtanik, Danilo Zavrtanik, 2021, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: Over the past decade the multi-messenger astrophysics has emerged as a distinct discipline,
providing unique insights into the properties of high-energy phenomena in the Universe. The
Pierre Auger Observatory, located in Malargüe, Argentina, is the world’s largest cosmic ray
detector sensitive to photons, neutrinos, and hadrons at ultra-high energies. Using its data, stringent
limits on photon and neutrino fluxes at EeV energies have been obtained. The collaboration uses
the excellent angular resolution and the neutrino identification capabilities of the Observatory
for follow-up studies of events detected in gravitational waves or other messengers, through
cooperation with global multi-messenger networks. We present a science motivation together
with an overview of the multi-messenger capabilities and results of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Keywords: high-energy cosmic phenomena, multi-messenger astrophysical studies, cosmic rays, gamma-rays, neutrinos, Pierre Auger Observatory Published in RUNG: 06.05.2022; Views: 1646; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |