Acceleration of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays in the kiloparsec-scale jets of nearby radio galaxies

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Wang, Jieshuang, Reville, Brian, Rieger, Frank M., Aharonian, Felix A.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2024
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author Wang, Jieshuang
Reville, Brian
Rieger, Frank M.
Aharonian, Felix A.
author_facet Wang, Jieshuang
Reville, Brian
Rieger, Frank M.
Aharonian, Felix A.
contents Radio galaxies have long been considered as potential sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). Recent analyses of the UHECR spectrum, composition, and arrival directions indicate that the nearest radio galaxy, Centaurus A, could be linked to the reported dipole anisotropy, though the mechanism underlying the acceleration remains elusive. In this Letter, we explore UHECR acceleration in the kiloparsec-scale jets of radio galaxies, exemplified by Centaurus A. Using high-resolution relativistic magneto-hydrodynamic and test-particle simulations without sub-grid physics, we investigate the acceleration of the highest-energy particles in the turbulent sheath of a fast-moving jet. Our findings demonstrate that acceleration close to the maximum theoretical expectation is possible. When extrapolated to nearby radio galaxies, our results suggest that the kiloparsec-scale jets of Centaurus A could account for the dipole anisotropy in UHECRs, while more potent Fanaroff-Riley type II radio galaxies may account for the observed UHECR spectrum with a rigidity cutoff at a few Exavolts.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2411_16674
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Acceleration of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays in the kiloparsec-scale jets of nearby radio galaxies
Wang, Jieshuang
Reville, Brian
Rieger, Frank M.
Aharonian, Felix A.
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Radio galaxies have long been considered as potential sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). Recent analyses of the UHECR spectrum, composition, and arrival directions indicate that the nearest radio galaxy, Centaurus A, could be linked to the reported dipole anisotropy, though the mechanism underlying the acceleration remains elusive. In this Letter, we explore UHECR acceleration in the kiloparsec-scale jets of radio galaxies, exemplified by Centaurus A. Using high-resolution relativistic magneto-hydrodynamic and test-particle simulations without sub-grid physics, we investigate the acceleration of the highest-energy particles in the turbulent sheath of a fast-moving jet. Our findings demonstrate that acceleration close to the maximum theoretical expectation is possible. When extrapolated to nearby radio galaxies, our results suggest that the kiloparsec-scale jets of Centaurus A could account for the dipole anisotropy in UHECRs, while more potent Fanaroff-Riley type II radio galaxies may account for the observed UHECR spectrum with a rigidity cutoff at a few Exavolts.
title Acceleration of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays in the kiloparsec-scale jets of nearby radio galaxies
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.16674