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P. Blasi

Publications and source records attributed to P. Blasi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv2006

A dip in the UHECR spectrum and the transition from galactic to extragalactic cosmic rays

The dip is a feature in the diffuse spectrum of ultra-high energy (UHE) protons caused by electron-positron pair production on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. For a power-law generation spectrum $E^{-2.7}$, the calculated position and shape of the dip is confirmed with high accuracy by the spectra observed by the Akeno-AGASA, HiRes, Yakutsk and Fly's Eye detectors. When the particle energies, measured in these detectors, are calibrated by the dip, their fluxes agree with a remarkable accuracy. The predicted shape of the dip is quite robust. The dip is only modified strongly when the fraction of nuclei heavier than protons is high at injection, which imposes some restrictions on the mechanisms of acceleration operating in UHECR sources. The existence of the dip, confirmed by observations, implies that the transition from galactic to extragalactic cosmic rays occurs at $E \lsim 1\times 10^{18}$ eV. We show that at energies lower than a characteristic value $E_{\rm cr}\approx 1\times 10^{18}$ eV, the spectrum of extragalactic cosmic rays flattens in all cases of interest, and it provides a natural transition to a steeper galactic cosmic ray spectrum. This transition occurs at some energy below $E_{\rm cr}$, corresponding to the position of the so-called second knee. We discuss extensively the constraints on this model imposed by current knowledge of acceleration processes and sources of UHECR and compare it with the traditional model of transition at the ankle.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2005

Alfvenic reacceleration of relativistic particles in galaxy clusters in the presence of secondary electrons and positrons

In a previous paper (Brunetti et al. 2004) we presented the first self-consistent calculations of the time-dependent coupled equations for the electrons, hadrons and Alfvén waves in the intracluster medium, which describe the stochastic acceleration of the charged particles and the corresponding spectral modification of the waves. Under viable assumptions, this system of mutually interacting components was shown to accurately describe several observational findings related to the radio halos in clusters of galaxies. In this paper, we add to the self-consistency of the calculations by including the generation and re-energization of secondary electrons and positrons, produced by the inelastic interactions of cosmic rays with the thermal gas in the intracluster medium. The bulk of Cosmic rays is expected to be confined within the cluster volume for cosmological times, so that the rate of production of secondary electrons, as well as gamma rays, may become correspondingly enhanced. If MHD waves are present, as it may be expected in the case of a recent merger event, then the reacceleration of secondary electrons and positrons can significantly affect the phenomenology of the non thermal processes in clusters. We investigate here these effects for the first time.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2005

On the role of injection in kinetic approaches to nonlinear particle acceleration at non-relativistic shock waves

The dynamical reaction of the particles accelerated at a shock front by the first order Fermi process can be determined within kinetic models that account for both the hydrodynamics of the shocked fluid and the transport of the accelerated particles. These models predict the appearance of multiple solutions, all physically allowed. We discuss here the role of injection in selecting the real solution, in the framework of a simple phenomenological recipe, which is a variation of what is sometimes referred to as thermal leakage. In this context we show that multiple solutions basically disappear and when they are present they are limited to rather peculiar values of the parameters. We also provide a quantitative calculation of the efficiency of particle acceleration at cosmic ray modified shocks and we identify the fraction of energy which is advected downstream and that of particles escaping the system from upstream infinity at the maximum momentum. The consequences of efficient particle acceleration for shock heating are also discussed.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2005

Phenomenological Quantum Gravity: the birth of a new frontier?

In the last years a general consensus has emerged that, contrary to intuition, quantum-gravity effects may have relevant consequences for the propagation and interaction of high energy particles. This has given birth to the field of ``Phenomenological Quantum Gravity'' We review some of the aspects of this new, very exciting frontier of Physics.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2004

Quantum-Gravity phenomenology and high energy particle propagation

Quantum-gravity effects may introduce relevant consequences for the propagation and interaction of high energy cosmic rays particles. Assuming the space-time foamy structure results in an intrinsic uncertainty of energy and momentum of particles, we show how low energy (under GZK) observations can provide strong constraints on the role of the fluctuating space-time structure.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2004

High energy gamma ray counterparts of astrophysical sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays

If ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) are accelerated at astrophysical point sources, the identification of such sources can be achieved if there is some kind of radiation at observable wavelengths that may be associated with the acceleration and/or propagation processes. No radiation of this type has so far been detected or at least no such connection has been claimed. The process of photopion production during the propagation of UHECRs from the sources to the Earth results in the generation of charged and neutral pions. The neutral (charged) pions in turn decay to gamma quanta and electrons that initiate an electromagnetic cascade in the universal photon background. We calculate the flux of this gamma radiation in the GeV-TeV energy range and find that for source luminosities compatible with those expected from small scale anisotropies in the directions of arrival of UHECRs, the fluxes can be detectable by future Cerenkov gamma ray telescopes, such as VERITAS and HESS, provided the intergalactic magnetic field is not larger than $\sim 10^{-10}$ Gauss and for source distances comparable with the loss length for photopion production.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2004

Phenomenology of Space Time Fluctuations

Quantum gravitational effects may induce stochastic fluctuations in the structure of space-time, to produce a characteristic foamy structure. It has been known for some time now that these fluctuations may have observable consequences for the propagation of cosmic ray particles over cosmological distances. While invoked as a possible explanation for the detection of the puzzling cosmic rays with energies in excess of the threshold for photopion production (the so-called super-GZK particles), we demonstrate here that lower energy observations may provide strong constraints on the role of a fluctuating space-time structure. We note also that the same fluctuations, if they exist, imply that some decay reactions normally forbidden by elementary conservation laws, become kinematically allowed, inducing the decay of particles that are seen to be stable in our universe. Due to the strength of the prediction, we are led to consider this finding as the most severe constraint on the classes of models that may describe the effects of gravity on the structure of space-time. We also propose and discuss several potential loopholes of our approach, that may affect our conclusions. In particular, we try to identify the situations in which despite a fluctuating energy-momentum of the particles, the reactions mentioned above may not take place.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2003

Gamma-Ray Constraints on Neutralino Dark Matter Clumps in the Galactic Halo

According to high resolution cold dark matter (CDM) simulations, large virialized halos are formed through the constant merging of smaller halos formed at earlier times. In particular, the halo of our Galaxy may have hundreds of dark matter clumps. The annihilation of dark matter particles such as the neutralino in these clumps generates $γ$-ray fluxes that can potentially be detected by future experiments such as GLAST. We find that, depending on the parameters of the clump density profile and on the distribution of clumps in the Galactic halo, the contribution to the diffuse $γ$-ray background from clumps can constrain the properties of neutralinos such as the mass and annihilation cross section. We model the density profile of clumps by three representative dark matter profiles: singular isothermal spheres (SIS), Moore profiles, and Navarro, Frenk and White (NFW) density profiles and calculate the spectrum and angular distribution in the sky of the $γ$-ray flux due to neutralino annihilation in the clumpy halo of the Galaxy. The calculations are carried out in the context of two different scenarios for the distribution of clumps in the Galaxy and their concentrations, which result in very different conclusions.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2003

A fluctuating energy-momentum may produce an unstable world

Quantum gravitational effects may induce stochastic fluctuations in the structure of space-time, to produce a characteristic foamy structure. It has been known for some time now that these fluctuations may have observable consequencies for the propagation of cosmic ray particles over cosmological distances. We note here that the same fluctuations, if they exist, imply that some decay reactions normally forbidden by elementary conservation laws, become kinematically allowed, inducing the decay of particles that are seen to be stable in our universe. Due to the strength of the prediction, we are led to consider this finding as the most severe constraint on the classes of models that may describe the effects of gravity on the structure of space-time. We also propose and discuss several potential loopholes of our approach, that may affect our conclusions. In particular, we try to identify the situations in which despite a fluctuating energy-momentum of the particles, the reactions mentioned above may not take place.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2003

Signatures of high energy protons in pulsar winds

The resonant cyclotron absorption model is very successful in describing particle acceleration in plerions. A sensible prediction of this model is the presence of a substantial amount of relativistic protons in pulsar winds. Although difficult to detect, these protons may show up through their interactions either with the photons in the plerion environment or with the thermal gas in the supernova ejecta. Inelastic proton-proton (p-p) collisions are expected to be very effective in young objects, resulting in a copious production of neutral and charged pions. Charged pions produced during the first few hundred years after the supernova explosion may have time to decay into muons, whose subsequent decay may provide an additional source of electrons and positrons in these nebulae, that sums up to the pulsar input. These secondary leptons evolve just as the pairs in the pulsar wind, and signatures of their presence could be found, in principle, even in the synchrotron spectrum of older objects. p-p collisions may remain fairly efficient even in moderately old objects resulting in the production of TeV gamma-rays and neutrinos. We apply our calculations to the case of the Crab Nebula, the best studied plerion insofar, and find that existing data already allow to infer interesting constraints on the physical properties of the Crab pulsar wind.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2002

Detectability of Space-Time Fluctuations in Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray Experiments

It is generally expected that quantum gravity affects the structure of space-time by introducing stochastic fluctuations in the geometry, and, ultimately, in the measurements of four-distances and four-momenta.These fluctuations may induce observable consequences on the propagation of ultra high energy particles, mainly in the range of energies of interest for cosmic ray physics, over large distances, leading to their detection or constraining the underlying quantum gravitational structure. We argue that the detectable effects of fluctuations may extend to energies much lower than the threshold for proton photopion production (the so-called GZK cut-off), so that lower energy observations may provide strong constraints on the role of a fluctuating space-time structure.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2002

Space Time Fluctuations and Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray Interactions

The intimate geometry of space-time is expected to suffer stochastic fluctuations as a result of quantum gravitational effects. These fluctuations may induce observable consequences on the propagation of high energy particles over large distances, so that the strength and the characteristics of these fluctuations may be constrained, mainly in the range of energies of interest for cosmic ray physics. While invoked as a possible explanation for the detection of the puzzling cosmic rays with energies in excess of the threshold for photopion production (the so-called super-GZK particles), we demonstrate here that lower energy observations may provide strong constraints on the role of a fluctuating space-time structure.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2002

Detecting WIMPs in the Microwave Sky

The hierarchical clustering observed in cold dark matter simulations results in highly clumped galactic halos. If the dark matter in our halo is made of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), their annihilation products should be detectable in the higher density and nearby clumps. We consider WIMPs to be neutralinos and calculate the synchrotron flux from their annihilation products in the presence of the Galactic magnetic field. We derive a self-consistent emission spectrum including pair annihilation, synchrotron self-absorption, and synchrotron self-Compton reactions. The resulting radiation spans microwave frequencies that can be observed over the anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background. These synchrotron sources should be identifiable as WIMP clumps, either by their spatial structure or by their distinctive radio spectrum.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2001

Small Scale Anisotropies of UHECRs from Super-Heavy Halo Dark Matter

The decay of very heavy metastable relics of the Early Universe can produce ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) in the halo of our own Galaxy. In this model, no Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cutoff is expected because of the short propagation distances. We show here that, as a consequence of the hierarchical build up of the halo, this scenario predicts the existence of small scale anisotropies in the arrival directions of UHECRs, in addition to a large scale anisotropy, known from previous studies. We also suggest some other observable consequences of this scenario which will be testable with upcoming experiments, as Auger, EUSO and OWL.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2000

Probing The Structure of Space-Time with Cosmic Rays

The study of the interactions of Cosmic Rays (CR's) with universal diffuse background radiation can provide very stringent tests of the validity of Special Relativity. The interactions we consider are the ones characterized by well defined energy thresholds whose energy position can be predicted on the basis of Special Relativity. We argue that the experimental confirmation of the existence of these thresholds can in principle put very stringent limits on the scale where Special Relativity and/or continuity of space-time may possibly break down.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2000

The Effect of a Non-Thermal Tail on the Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect in clusters of galaxies

We study the spectral distortions of the cosmic microwave background radiation induced by the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect in clusters of galaxies when the target electrons have a modified Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution with a high-energy non-thermal tail. Bremsstrahlung radiation from this type of \\ electron distribution may explain the supra-thermal X-ray emission observed in some clusters such as the Coma cluster and A2199 and serve as an alternative to the classical but problematic inverse Compton scattering interpretation. We show that the SZ effect can be used as a powerful tool to probe the electron distribution in clusters of galaxies and discriminate among these different interpretations of the X-ray excess. The existence of a non-thermal tail can have important consequences for cluster based estimators of cosmological parameters.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2000

Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays from Young Neutron Star Winds

The long-held notion that the highest-energy cosmic rays are of distant extragalactic origin is challenged by observations that events above $\sim 10^{20}$ eV do not exhibit the expected high-energy cutoff from photopion production off the cosmic microwave background. We suggest that these unexpected ultra-high-energy events are due to iron nuclei accelerated from young strongly magnetized neutron stars through relativistic MHD winds. We find that neutron stars whose initial spin periods are shorter than $\sim 4 (B_S/10^{13}{\rm G})^{1/2}$ ms, where $B_S$ is the surface magnetic field, can accelerate iron cosmic rays to greater than $\sim 10^{20}$ eV. These ions can pass through the remnant of the supernova explosion that produced the neutron star without suffering significant spallation reactions. For plausible models of the Galactic magnetic field, the trajectories of the iron ions curve sufficiently to be consistent with the observed arrival directions of the highest energy events.

astro-ph↗