UHE Cosmic Rays and AGN Jets [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1911.04171


Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and their relativistic jets are believed to be potential sites of ultra-high-energy (UHE) cosmic ray acceleration. This paper reviews basic observational findings as well as requirements on source energetics, and then discusses the relevance of different acceleration sites and mechanisms, such as black hole gap, shock in back-flows or jet shear acceleration. When put in context, the result suggests that Fermi-type particle acceleration at trans-relativistic shocks and/or in shearing, relativistic flows offers the most promising framework for UHECR production in AGN. Truly deciphering the astrophysical sources of UHECRs, however, still needs improved statistical information on arrival directions and source correlations.

Read this paper on arXiv…

F. Rieger
Tue, 12 Nov 19
73/84

Comments: compact review paper, based on invited talk at HEPRO VII (Barcelona, July 2019), accepted for publication; 13 pages, 7 figures, 50 references