Auger test of the Cen A model of highest energy cosmic rays

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/d20000388

If, as recently proposed by Farrar and Piran, Cen A is the source of cosmic rays detected above the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz’min cutoff, neutrons are ≈ 140 more probable than protons to be observed along its line of sight. This is because the proton flux is rendered nearly isotropic by O(μG) intergalactic magnetic fields. With the anticipated aperture of the Southern Auger Observatory, one may expect on the order of 2 neutron events/year above 1020 eV in the line of sight of Cen A.