Magnetic lensing of ultra high energy cosmic rays

Abstract

We discuss several effects due to lensing of ultra high energy cosmic rays by the regular component of the galactic magnetic field. Large flux magnification around caustics can be a significant source of clustering in the arrival directions of UHECRs of comparable energy. We also discuss lensing effects in a hypothetical galactic magnetic wind model recently proposed to explain the extremely high energy cosmic rays so far observed as originating from a single source (M87). This model implies large flux magnifications, which reduce the power requirements on the source, and a significant asymmetry in the expected flux between the north and south galactic hemispheres.

6 pages, 4 figures. Prepared for the Proceedings of the International Workshop on Observing Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays from Space and Earth, Metepec, Puebla, Mexico, August 9-12, 2000. Replaced version fixes a bug that prevented printing of Figure 3