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- Title
The acceleration of cosmic-ray protons in the supernova remnant RX J1713.7-3946.
- Authors
Enomoto, R.; Tanimori, T.; Naito, T.; Yoshida, T.; Yanagita, S.; Mori, M.; Edwards, P.G.; Asahara, A.; Gunji, S.; Hara, S.; Hara, T.; Uruma, K.; Muraki, Y.; Ohishi, M.; Patterson, J.R.; Takano, K.; Tsunoo, H.; Kubo, H.; Kataoka, J.
- Abstract
Protons with energies up to ∼10[SUP15]eV are the main component[SUP1] of cosmic rays, but evidence for the specific locations where they could have been accelerated to these energies has been lacking[SUP2]. Electrons are known to be accelerated to cosmic-ray energies in supernova remnants[SUP3,4] and the shock waves associated with such remnants, when they hit the surrounding interstellar medium, could also provide the energy to accelerate protons. The signature of such a process would be the decay of pions (π[SUP0]), which are generated when the protons collide with atoms and molecules in an interstellar cloud: pion decay results in γ-rays with a particular spectral-energy distribution[SUP5,6]. Here we report the observation of cascade showers of optical photons resulting from &gammarays at energies of ∼ 10[SUP12]eV hitting Earth's upper atmosphere, in the direction of the supernova remnant RX 11713.7-394?. The spectrum is a good match to that predicted by pion decay, and cannot be explained by other mechanisms.
- Subjects
COSMIC rays; PROTONS; SUPERNOVA remnants; PIONS
- Publication
Nature, 2002, Vol 416, Issue 6883, p823
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/416823a