Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1997-10-30
Phys.Rev.Lett.80:1816-1817,1998
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
2 pages revtex with one figure, submitted to Physical Review Letters
Scientific paper
10.1103/PhysRevLett.80.1816
We present the results of a new estimation of the photodisintegration and propagation of ultrahigh energy cosmic ray (UHCR) nuclei in intergalactic space. The critical interactions for photodisintegration and energy loss of UHCR nuclei occur with photons of the infrared background radiation (IBR). We have reexamined this problem making use of a new determination of the IBR based on empirical data, primarily from IRAS galaxies, and also collateral information from TeV gamma-ray observations of two nearby BL Lac objects. Our results indicate that a 200 EeV Fe nucleus can propagate apx. 100 Mpc through the IBR. We argue that it is possible that the highest energy cosmic rays observed may be heavy nuclei.
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