TeV signatures of compact UHECR accelerators

We numerically study particle acceleration by the electric field induced near the horizon of a rotating supermassive (M ～ 10⁹–10¹⁰M_⊙) black hole embedded in the magnetic field B. We find that acceleration of protons to the energy E ～ 10²⁰ eV is possible only at extreme values of M and B. We also find that the acceleration is very inefficient and is accompanied by a broad-band MeV-TeV radiation whose total power exceeds the total power emitted in ultrahigh energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) at least by a factor of 1000. This implies that if O(10) nearby quasar remnants were sources of proton events with an energy E > 10²⁰ eV, then each quasar remnant would, e.g., overshine the Crab Nebula by more than two orders of magnitude in the TeV energy band. Recent TeV observations exclude this possibility. A model in which O(100) sources are situated at 100–1000 Mpc is not ruled out and can be experimentally tested by present TeV γ-ray telescopes. Such a model can explain the observed UHECR flux at moderate energies E ≈ (4–5) × 10¹⁹ eV.     

Energy spectrum of cosmic rays and multiparticle generation of hadrons at ultrahigh energies

None of the presently known local sources of photons whose energy exceeds 10¹² eV is incompatible with the universal energy spectrum F(>E _γ ) ～ E _γ ^?1.36±0.15 . The power of extragalactic sources is 10⁶ to 10¹² times higher than the power of galactic sources since the respective distances are longer in the former case, while the observed flux intensities are approximately identical in the two cases. A much higher power of extragalactic sources is indicative of an extragalactic cosmic-ray origin and of the existence of a universal (for all energies of protons and cosmic-ray nuclei) process that is responsible for the energy loss in the Metagalaxy and which forms the observed energy spectrum of protons and nuclei (～E ₀ ^?2.72 ). It is shown that there is no break in the energy spectrum of primary protons in the energy range 10¹⁵–10¹⁶ eV and that the break in the spectrum of extensive air showers with respect to the number of electrons is due to a change in the process of multiparticle hadron generation in the first event of extensive-air-shower production, this being confirmed by a change in the extensive-air-shower absorption length from λ_a<90 g/cm² before the break to λ_a>150 g/cm² after the break.     

Nuclear composition of 1-to 20-PeV primary cosmic rays according to lateral features of the electron-photon component of all extensive air showers and of extensive air showers accompanying high-energy gamma rays and hadrons in x-ray emulsion chambers at the Tien Shan level

Data from the Tien Shan array Adron on the dependence of the lateral distributions of the electron-photon component (age parameter S) in extensive air showers of cosmic rays on the number of electrons, N _e , which is a quantity that characterizes the primary-nucleus energy E₀, are subjected to a comparative analysis. The distributions in question are given both for all showers and for showers accompanying high-energy gamma rays and hadrons in x-ray emulsion chambers. According to calculations, events associated with the latter are generated predominantly by primary protons, and this makes it possible to assess their role at various values of E₀. The distributions with respect to S suggest a significant fraction of light nuclei, predominantly protons, in the region after the knee in the spectrum for N _e >10⁶, at least up to N _e =5.6×10⁶ (E₀ ～ 10 PeV).     

Fine Structure of Beta Decay Strength Function and Anisotropy of Isovector Nuclear Dencity Component Oscillations in Deformed Nuclei

The experimental measurement data on the fine structure of beta-decay strength function S_β(E) in spherical, transitional, and deformed nuclei are analyzed. Modern high-resolution nuclear spectroscopy methods made it possible to identify the splitting of peaks in S_β(E) for deformed nuclei. By analogy with splitting of the peak of E1 giant dipole resonance (GDR) in deformed nuclei, the peaks in S_β(E) are split into two components from the axial nuclear deformation. In this report, the fine structure of S_β(E) is discussed. Splitting of the peaks connected with the oscillations of neutrons against protons (E1GDR), of proton holes against neutrons (peaks in S_β(E) of β⁺/EC-decay), and of protons against neutron holes (peaks in S_β(E) of β^–-decay) is discussed.     

Distant metagalactic sources of very high energy γ rays: 1739 + 522 and 3c454.3

Sources with red shifts from z = 0.0179 to 1.375 have been observed with the SHALON telescope. Fluxes, spectral energy distributions, integrated spectra, and images of new (in the TeV energy range) distant sources—flat-spectrum radio quasars 1739 + 522 and 3c454.3—are reported. It is shown that the energy spectrum of metagalactic sources (Mkn421 and Mkn501 quasars) in the energy range 10¹²–10¹³ eV in the power-law representation differs from the spectrum of 1739 + 522 and 3c454.4 distant quasars, which do not contradict the unified energy spectrum F(>E) ～ E _γ ^?1.26±0.15 .     

Energy spectra of secondary particles in γ families and their sensitivity to the spectrum of primary cosmic rays

Spectra of secondary particles (γ-rays) in γ-families detected in the X-ray chambers in the Pamirs (H = 600 g cm^?2) have been analyzed. These γ-ray spectra show a bend at the energy E* _γ ≈ (ΣE _γ )^min, where (ΣE _γ )^min is the lowest total energy of γ-rays in the families above which γ-families were selected. The bend is not related to the knee in the spectrum of primary particles; it is due to the use of the ΣE _γ selection criterion. The E _γ spectrum slope is sensitive to the spectrum of the primary cosmic rays in the region E _γ ≥ (ΣE _γ )^min.     

A Method for Estimation of the Parameters of the Primary Particle of an Extensive Air Shower by a High-Altitude Detector

A method for estimation of the parameters of the primary particle of an extensive air shower (EAS) by a high-altitude detector complex is described. This method was developed as part of the Pamir-XXI project. The results may be useful for other high-altitude projects and the EAS method in general. The specific configurations of optical detectors for Cherenkov EAS radiation and charged-particle detectors, the methods for data processing, and the attainable accuracy of reconstruction of parameters of primary particles (energy, direction, mass/type) are presented. The results primarily cover optical detectors that are suitable for studying EASs from primary nuclei in the range of energies E⁰ = 100 TeV–100 PeV and showers from primary γ-quanta with energies of E_γ ≥ 30 TeV. Grids of charged-particle detectors designed to determine the EAS direction and energy in the E⁰ = 1 PeV–1 EeV range are also considered. The obtained accuracy estimates are the upper limits of the actual experimental accuracies.     

Neutron single-particle structure of <Superscript>48</Superscript>Ca, <Superscript>50</Superscript>Ti, <Superscript>52</Superscript>Cr, <Superscript>54</Superscript>Fe,and <Superscript>56</Superscript>Ni nuclei

The change in the neutron single-particle structure of (1f?2p)-shell magic nuclei near the Fermi energy with an increase in the number of protons in the 1f _7/2 subshell from 0 for ⁴⁸Ca to 8 for ⁵⁶Ni has been investigated. Good agreement of the experimental and estimated values of the single-particle energies E _nlj of the bound states of neutrons in these nuclei with the results of calculations within the dispersive optical model is obtained.     

Isotopic invariance of fission fragment charge distributions for actinide nuclei at excitation energies above 10 MeV

The fragment mass and energy distributions from the proton-induced fission of compound nuclei ²³³Pa, ^{234,236,237,239}Np, ^{239,240,241,243}Am, and ²⁴⁵Bk at proton energy E _p =10.3 and 22.0 MeV have been experimentally studied. It was revealed that the shapes of the asymmetric fission mass distributions are mainly defined by the proton numbers of compound nuclei and demonstrate only a weak dependence on the neutron ones. The detailed study of the fission fragment mass yields for compound nuclei Np and Am isotopic chains has shown that the asymmetric fission fragment charge distributions calculated within the unchanged charge density hypothesis for nuclei with equal Z _C practically coincide.     

Energieverteilung und Wirkungsquerschnitt der Photoprotonen aus N15

The energy spectra of photo protons from highly enriched N¹⁵ were investigated with the bremsstrahlung from the Heidelberg betatron running at six different endpoint energies between 19 and 30.5 MeV. The protons were detected at 90° to theγ-beam by means of a CsJ-spectrometer with pulse shape discrimination. The energy spectra show pronounced maxima atE _p =3.2; 4.6; 9.5 and 13.3 MeV. Proton yields are given as a function of endpoint energy, the yield value atE ₀=30.5 MeV being (7.0±0.8) μb/MeV · ster. Because the first excited state in the daughter nucleus C¹⁴ lies 6.09 MeV above the groundstate, the cross section for groundstate transitions of the process N¹⁵(γ, p)C¹⁴ could be derived from the upper 6 MeV of the single proton spectra. The main contribution to the cross section comes from the region between 18 and 26 MeV excitation energy with maxima at 19.5; 20.4; 22.7 and 24.5 MeV. A “pygmy resonance” occurs at 15.2 MeV with further less pronounced structures at 13.6 and 17.0 MeV. The integrated cross section for groundstate transitions up to 30.5 MeV is (22±3) MeVmb assuming isotropic angular distribution. The ratios of protons from transitions to excited states and from the (γ, n p)-reaction to those of groundstate transitions rise from 0.45 atE ₀=24.5 MeV to 0.70 atE ₀=30.5 MeV.     

Investigation of quasielastic muon-neutrino scattering on nuclei at <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis><Subscript>v</Subscript> < 1 GeV

Quasielastic muon-neutrino scattering on nuclei of propane-Freon mixture at energies in the range E _v < 1 GeV is studied. The multiplicity, momentum, and emission-angle distributions of final protons are measured along with the dependence of the mean values for these distributions on the neutrino energy in the range 0.2 < E _v < 1 GeV.     

Radiation widths of resonances in the <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar(pγ)<Superscript>41</Superscript>K reaction

The excitation function for the ⁴⁰Ar(pγ)⁴¹K reaction at the accelerated proton energy E _p= 450–2700 keV is studied. Positions of 168 resonances identified as levels of the ⁴¹K nucleus are observed in this energy range. The data for the proton energy E _p < 1 MeV and E _p > 2 MeV are obtained for the first time. Relative yields of γ rays observed in the decay of the resonances are calculated from a comparison with the yield of the calibrating resonance at E _p= 1102 keV. Total radiation widths of the resonances are calculated on the basis of the data obtained.     

Description of cross sections for photonuclear reactions in the energy range between 7 and 140 MeV

A combination of the exciton and evaporation models is used to describe photonuclear reactions induced in light, medium-mass, and heavy nuclei by photons of energy in the range 7 ≤ E _γ ≤ 140 MeV. Two mechanisms of the photoexcitation of nuclei are considered. These are the formation of a giant dipole resonance at energies in the range E _γ ? 30 MeV and quasideuteron photoabsorption, which is dominant at energies in the region E _γ ? 40 MeV. The density of particle-hole states, which appears in the exciton model, is calculated on the basis of the Fermi gas model. The emission of two preequilibrium particles is taken into account in describing the quasideuteron reaction channel. The effect of isospin conservation on giant-dipole-resonance decay accompanied by photonucleon emission is examined. The model in question is used to describe cross sections for photon-induced reactions on ²⁶Mg, ⁵⁴Fe, ^{112,118,119,124}Sn, and ¹⁸¹Ta nuclei.     

Measurement of the azimuthal anisotropy coefficient <Emphasis Type="Italic">v</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript> for the emission of α particles in nucleus-nucleus collisions at energies 1.88–10.6 GeV/nucleon

The azimuthal anisotropy of the emission of α particles in collisions of the ²²Ne, ²⁴Mg, ⁵⁶Fe, and ¹⁹⁷Au nuclei with photoemulsion nuclei has been measured at projectile energies E_pr = 1.88–10.6 GeV/nucleon. The results are compared with similar measurements for protons. It has been found that the ratio of the azimuthal anisotropy coefficients v₂ for α particles and protons is equal to 6 ± 2 at low energies E_pr ≈ 2 GeV/nucleon, whereas these coefficients coincide with each other for energies E_pr ≥ 4 GeV/nucleon. This difference may indicate that, at low projectile energies, α particles are formed predominantly at the early stage of a collective flow. Formation of α particles for E_pr ≥ 4 GeV/nucleon likely occurs at the stage of nuclear matter scattering.     

Die Spektren der Neutronen aus den Reaktionen C12(γ,n)C11 und O16(γ,n)O15

The (γ, n)-reactions on carbon and oxygen were studied using the 30,5 MeV brems-strahlung beam of the Heidelberg betatron. The photoneutrons were detected via the recoil protons in a stilbene scintillator. The pulse height spectrum of scintillations produced in the stilbene crystal by the recoil protons is analyzed to yield the incident neutron energy distribution. Theγ-ray and electron background was strongly reduced through pulse shape discrimination. To test the apparatus the spectrum of the neutrons from a Po-α-Be source was measured. The energy spectrum of the photo-neutrons from O¹⁶ shows clearly two peaks at excitation energies of 22,4 and 24,4 MeV also seen in the photo-proton spectra. The energy distribution of the neutrons from C¹² (γ, n) too contains indication of structure already known from the proton spectra from C¹² (γ, p). The derived cross sections of C¹² (γ, n ₀) and O¹⁶ (γ, n ₀) coincide as well in their shape as in their absolute magnitude with the corresponding (γ, p ₀)-cross sections. In both C¹² (γ, n) and O¹⁶ (γ, n)-reaction the neutrons seem to leave the final nucleus mainly in its ground state.     

Analysis of single-particle energies of doubly magic <Superscript>100,132</Superscript>Sn nuclei within the dispersive optical model

Extrapolation of the single-particle energies E _nlj of the bound states of neutrons and protons in the ^{112,116,118,120,124}Sn isotopes has been performed to estimate the values of E _nlj for unstable doubly magic ₅₀ ¹⁰⁰ Sn₅₀ and ₅₀ ¹³² Sn₈₂ nuclei. The estimates obtained are compared with the data derived from the analysis of the decay spectra of neighboring radioactive nuclei and with the results of the calculation within the dispersive optical model.     

Energy loss of tens keV charged particles traveling in the hot dense carbon plasma

The energy loss of charged particles, including electrons, protons, and α-particles with tens keV initial energy E0, traveling in the hot dense carbon(C) plasma for densities from 2.281 to 22.81 g/cm3 and temperatures from 400 to 1500 eV is systematically and quantitatively studied by using the dimensional continuation method. The behaviors of different charged particles are readily distinguishable from each other. Firstly, because an ion is thousands times heavier than an electron, the penetration distance of the electron is much longer than that of proton and α-particle traveling in the plasma. Secondly, most energy of electron projectile with E0 100 keV deposits into the electron species of C plasma, while for the cases of proton and α-particle with E0 100 keV,about more than half energy transfers into the ion species of C plasma. A simple decreasing law of the penetration distance as a function of the plasma density is fitted, and different behaviors of each projectile particle can be clearly found from the fitted data.We believe that with the advanced progress of the present experimental technology, the findings shown here could be confirmed in ion-stopping experiments in the near future.     

Preequilibrium model of photonucleon reactions that is based on Fermi gas densities

A combination of the exciton and evaporation models is used to describe photonucleon reactions induced in heavy and medium-mass nuclei by photons of energy in the range 7 ≤ E _γ ≤ 140 MeV. The formation of a giant dipole resonance and quasideuteron absorption are considered as two mechanisms that are responsible for the photoexcitation of a nucleus in the energy regions E _γ ? 20 MeV and E _γ ? 40 MeV, respectively. As is well known, the densities of particle-hole states are employed in the exciton model, and these quantities are calculated on the basis of the Fermi gas model. This makes it possible to take into account the effect of the energy dependence of single-particle and single-hole densities of states on the rate of emission and intranuclear processes. The model in question is applied to describing partial photonucleon cross sections for ¹¹⁹Sn, ¹⁴⁰Ce, ¹⁸¹Ta, and ²⁰⁸Pb nuclei.     

Calculation of the energy dependence of the fusion cross section and total cross sections for peripheral reactions on the basis of an analysis of data on elastic heavy-ion scattering: Strongly bound ions

A method is proposed for calculating the energy dependence of the fusion cross section (in general, the sum of the cross sections for complete and incomplete fusion, quasifission, and reactions of deep-inelastic scattering) σ _F (E) and the total cross section for peripheral (or quasielastic) reactions, σ _D (E). The method is based on an analysis of a limited set of angular distributions for the elastic scattering in a given pair of nuclei. The predictive power of the method is illustrated by considering the ¹⁶O + ²⁰⁸Pb, ¹⁶O + ⁴⁰Ca, and ¹⁶O + ²⁸Si systems. For each of these systems, the calculations were performed at energies in the range extending from subbarrier values to those exceeding the barrier height substantially. The results of the calculations are found to be in good agreement with relevant experimental data, whereby the reliability of the method is confirmed. By virtue of this, it is proposed to employ the method to study the energy dependences σ _F (E) and σ _D (E) in collisions involving unstable nuclei, for which it is difficult to determine experimentally the above dependences because of a low intensity of secondary beams.     

Total strength of the magnetic dipole resonance in <Superscript>27</Superscript>Al

The γ decay of the resonance-like structure observed in the ²⁶Mg(pγ)²⁷ Al reaction in the energy range E _p = 0.8–3.0 MeV of accelerated protons has been investigated. The M1 resonance on the ground and excited states of ²⁷Al with E* = 844 and 1014 keV is identified. The total strength of the M1 resonance on the ground state of this nucleus is determined. The position and total strength of this resonance are explained taking into account pairing forces.