Pasquale Blasi
(INAF/Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy)
6/21/07, 2:30 PM
I will describe the most recent developments in the description of the processes responsible for the acceleration of cosmic rays up to the highest energies. The origin and transport of ultra-high energy cosmic rays will be discussed in tight connection with the related issues of the origin and
transport of galactic cosmic rays.
Joerg Hoerandel
(University of Karlsruhe, Germany)
6/21/07, 2:55 PM
The origin of galactic cosmic rays is one of the most interesting unsolved problems in astroparticle physics. A key ingredient in answering this question is to understand the knee in the energy spectrum of cosmic rays. Recent experimental results are presented and their implications on the
contemporary understanding of the origin of galactic cosmic rays is discussed.
Zhen Cao
(IHEP, Beijing, China)
6/21/07, 3:20 PM
The UHECR energy spectrum above 10^18.2 eV is measured by the HiRes stereo experiment using data taken from December 1999 to November 2006. A fully efficient aperture with minimal weather dependence is defined from 100 km^2 sr (at 10^18.2 eV) to 10000km^2 sr (at 10^20.5 eV). A clear "ankle" structure is observed at 10^18.7 eV with a confidence level of 99.7%. A GZK feature above 10^19.7 eV is...
Alan Watson
(University of Leeds, UK)
6/21/07, 3:45 PM
Our knowledge about cosmic rays above 10^19 eV is improving rapidly through the successful operation of the Auger Observatory in Argentina. Reasons for the interest in these rare particles will be explained and the latest data on the energy spectrum, mass composition and arrival directions reported from Auger, HiRes and AGASA will be discussed. The astrophysical implications that might be...
Alessandro Petrolini
(University of Genova and INFN, Italy)
6/21/07, 4:15 PM
After the Pierre Auger Observatory, it is likely that space-based experiments will be required for next-generation studies of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Particles. An overview of this challenging task is presented, emphasizing the path and the intermediate steps required to make this perspective a reality.
