Work

A data-driven approach to identifying the sources of the most extreme energy cosmic rays

Year: 2025

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: We use a data-driven simulation framework to constrain the origin of individual ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) through 3D modeling and likelihood-free inference. We highlight how this method can identify potential source locations based on propagation effects through Galactic and extra-Galactic magnetic fields and emphasize the role of systematic uncertainties. Our approach relies on CRPropa3 to simulate propagation and uses Approximate Bayesian Computation to derive constraints on key source parameters including position, distance, energy, and the properties of intervening magnetic fields. As a case study, we apply our methodology to the Amaterasu particle, the second-highest energy cosmic ray ever detected. We present our results, demonstrating the impact of the systematic uncertainty on the energy and that of different assumptions for the arrival mass of the Amaterasu particle.

Source: International Cosmic Ray Conference

DOI: 10.22323/1.501.0203

Authors: Nadine Bourriche, Francesca Capel

Institutions: Max Planck Institute for Physics, Technical University of Munich

Language: English

Topic: Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Awards: G1897041155, G4066435496, EXC 2094: ORIGINS: Vom Ursprung des Universums bis zu den ersten Bausteinen des Lebens