The Galactic Center as a point source of neutrons at EeV energies

Abstract

The central region of our Galaxy is a very peculiar environment, containing magnetic fields in excess of 100 mG and gas densities reaching ∼ 10 4 cm −3 . This region was observed as a strong source of GeV and TeVs gammas, what suggests that a mechanism of proton-neutron conversion could be taking place therein. We propose that the Galactic Center must also be a source of EeV neutrons due to the conversion of ultra high energy cosmic ray protons into neutrons via p-p interactions inside this region. This scenario should be falsifiable by the Pierre Auger Observatory after a few years of full exposure.

Localized Galactic sources and their contribution beyond the second knee

“…A uniform density ISM is a good approximation for SNRs evolving inside the GC region, as well as for the main SNR component ("standard") expanding inside the general ISM elsewhere in the Galactic disk. In fact the ISM inside the inner 200 pc of the Galaxy has a density of ∼ 10 4 cm 3 , which is very similar to that of the the cores of molecular clouds, but extended over a large region where several compact remnants can be easily observed in radio at different stages of evolution [10]. Furthermore, this region is permeated by a magnetic field almost three orders of magnitude larger than in the rest of the Galactic disk.…”