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Tracing protons through the Galactic magnetic field: a clue for charge composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays

P. G. Tinyakov·I. I. Tkachev
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Abstract

We reconstruct the trajectories of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) - observed by the AGASA experiment - in the Galactic magnetic field assuming that all particles have the same charge. We then study correlations between the reconstructed events and BL Lacs. The correlations have significance below 10^{-3} in the case of particles with charge +1. In the case of charge -1 the correlations are absent. We interpret this as evidence that protons are present in the flux of UHECR. Observed correlation provides an independent evidence that BL Lacs emit UHECR.

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P. G. Tinyakov, I. I. Tkachev. 2001-11-15. Tracing protons through the Galactic magnetic field: a clue for charge composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0927-6505(02)00109-3

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