High-energy cosmic ray nuclei from tidal disruption events: Origin, survival, and implications

Understand

Tidal disruption events (TDEs) by supermassive or intermediate mass black holes have been suggested as candidate sources of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) and high-energy neutrinos.

• Motivated by the recent measurements from the Pierre Auger Observatory, which indicates a metal-rich cosmic-ray composition at ultrahigh energies, we investigate the fate of UHECR nuclei loaded in TDE jets.
• First, we consider the production and survival of UHECR nuclei at internal shocks, external forward and reverse shocks, and nonrelativistic winds.
• Based on the observations of Swift J1644+57, we show that the UHECRs can survive for external reverse and forward shocks, and disk winds.