Acceleration and Propagation of Cosmic Rays in High-Metallicity Astrophysical Environments

This thesis examines the possibility of producing ultra-high-energy cosmic rays in starburst galaxies and active galactic nuclei, discussing the current research on cosmic ray accelerators and proposing new models to explain gamma emission in active galaxies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 131 pages
Publication date: 03 October 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This thesis delves into the potential for generating ultra-high-energy cosmic rays within starburst galaxies and active galactic nuclei, astrophysical entities that were initially proposed as potential sources decades ago. However, recent observational data from the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array has reignited interest in these objects. In this comprehensive work, we provide a thorough review of the current state-of-the-art research on cosmic ray accelerators, while also summarizing the key concepts necessary to bridge the gap between cosmic rays and electromagnetic and neutrino observations in the era of multi-messenger astronomy.

On the one hand, we revisit the hypothesis of accelerating particles with energies exceeding 10¹⁸ eV in starburst superwinds, carefully considering the constraints imposed by the latest electromagnetic observations. On the other hand, we present an alternative new model for the gamma emission of the nearby active galaxy NGC 1068. We explore the implications of our findings in the context of contemporary observatories and offer insights into the prospects for future experiments.

Through this thesis, we aim to contribute to our understanding of the origins and evolution of high-energy cosmic rays and their connection to the broader universe.

Weight: 395g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031103056
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022