The acceleration of cosmic-ray protons in the supernova remnant RX J1713.7–3946

R. Enomoto (), T. Tanimori, T. Naito, T. Yoshida, S. Yanagita, M. Mori, P. G. Edwards, A. Asahara, G. V. Bicknell, S. Gunji, S. Hara, T. Hara, S. Hayashi, C. Itoh, S. Kabuki, F. Kajino, H. Katagiri, J. Kataoka, A. Kawachi, T. Kifune, H. Kubo, J. Kushida, S. Maeda, A. Maeshiro, Y. Matsubara, Y. Mizumoto, M. Moriya, H. Muraishi, Y. Muraki, T. Nakase, K. Nishijima, M. Ohishi, K. Okumura, J. R. Patterson, K. Sakurazawa, R. Suzuki, D. L. Swaby, K. Takano, T. Takano, F. Tokanai, K. Tsuchiya, H. Tsunoo, K. Uruma, A. Watanabe and T. Yoshikoshi
Additional contact information
R. Enomoto: University of Tokyo
T. Tanimori: Kyoto University
T. Naito: Yamanashi Gakuin University
T. Yoshida: Ibaraki Unibersity
S. Yanagita: Ibaraki Unibersity
M. Mori: University of Tokyo
P. G. Edwards: Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
A. Asahara: Kyoto University
G. V. Bicknell: Mt Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories, Australian National University
S. Gunji: Yamagata University
S. Hara: Tokyo Institute of Technology
T. Hara: Yamanashi Gakuin University
S. Hayashi: Konan University
C. Itoh: Ibaraki Unibersity
S. Kabuki: University of Tokyo
F. Kajino: Konan University
H. Katagiri: University of Tokyo
J. Kataoka: Kyoto University
A. Kawachi: University of Tokyo
T. Kifune: Shinshu University
H. Kubo: Kyoto University
J. Kushida: Tokyo Institute of Technology
S. Maeda: Konan University
A. Maeshiro: Konan University
Y. Matsubara: Nagoya University
Y. Mizumoto: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
M. Moriya: Tokyo Institute of Technology
H. Muraishi: Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences
Y. Muraki: Nagoya University
T. Nakase: Tokai University
K. Nishijima: Tokai University
M. Ohishi: University of Tokyo
K. Okumura: University of Tokyo
J. R. Patterson: University of Adelaide
K. Sakurazawa: Tokyo Institute of Technology
R. Suzuki: University of Tokyo
D. L. Swaby: University of Adelaide
K. Takano: Tokyo Institute of Technology
T. Takano: Yamagata University
F. Tokanai: Yamagata University
K. Tsuchiya: University of Tokyo
H. Tsunoo: University of Tokyo
K. Uruma: Tokai University
A. Watanabe: Yamagata University
T. Yoshikoshi: Osaka City University

Nature, 2002, vol. 416, issue 6883, 823-826

Abstract: Abstract Protons with energies up to ∼1015 eV are the main component1 of cosmic rays, but evidence for the specific locations where they could have been accelerated to these energies has been lacking2. Electrons are known to be accelerated to cosmic-ray energies in supernova remnants3,4, and the shock waves associated with such remnants, when they hit the surrounding interstellar medium, could also provide the energy to accelerate protons. The signature of such a process would be the decay of pions (π0), which are generated when the protons collide with atoms and molecules in an interstellar cloud: pion decay results in γ-rays with a particular spectral-energy distribution5,6. Here we report the observation of cascade showers of optical photons resulting from γ-rays at energies of ∼1012 eV hitting Earth's upper atmosphere, in the direction of the supernova remnant RX J1713.7–3946. The spectrum is a good match to that predicted by pion decay, and cannot be explained by other mechanisms.

Date: 2002
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DOI: 10.1038/416823a

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