2001/01/05 by G. Sigl, Guenter Sigl · 4 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #astro-ph #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1126/science.291.5501.73
published as Science 291 (2001) 73-79 · 21 latex pages, 4 postscript figures included; preprint version of recent Science review article; for journal version link see http://www.iap.fr/users/sigl/uhecrpub.html
openalex publication_date 2001/01/05 · arxiv created 2001/04/17 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The origin of cosmic rays is one of the major unresolved questions in astrophysics. In particular, the highest energy cosmic rays observed have macroscopic energies up to several 10(20) electron volts and thus provide a probe of physics and astrophysics at energies unattained in laboratory experiments. Theoretical explanations range from astrophysical acceleration of charged particles, to particle physics beyond the established standard model, and processes taking place at the earliest moments of our universe. Distinguishing between these scenarios requires detectors with effective areas in the 1000-square-kilometer range, which are now under construction or in the planning stage. Close connections with gamma-ray and neutrino astrophysics add to the interdisciplinary character of this field.