New estimation of the spectral index of high-energy cosmic rays as determined by the Compton-Getting anisotropy

Collaboration
Nov, 2007
11 pages
Published in:
  • Astrophys.J.Lett. 672 (2008) L53
e-Print:
Experiments:

Citations per year

2009201120132015201710
Abstract: (arXiv)
The amplitude of the Compton-Getting (CG) anisotropy contains the power-law index of the cosmic-ray energy spectrum. Based on this relation and using the Tibet air-shower array data, we measure the cosmic-ray spectral index to be 3.03±0.55stat±<0.62syst-3.03 \pm 0.55_{stat} \pm < 0.62_{syst} between 6 TeV and 40 TeV, consistent with -2.7 from direct energy spectrum measurements. Potentially, this CG anisotropy analysis can be utilized to confirm the astrophysical origin of the ``knee'' against models for non-standard hadronic interactions in the atmosphere.
Note:
  • Submitted to Astrophys.J.Lett.
  • accepted to ApJL
  • cosmic rays
  • solar system: general
  • cosmic radiation: anisotropy
  • cosmic radiation: energy spectrum
  • cosmic radiation: flux
  • time dependence
  • shower detector: experimental results