Ordinary stars as potential TeV cosmic-ray accelerators

Recent observations of cosmic rays increasingly point to the existence of nearby sources $\ensuremath{-}$ so-called ``local tevatrons'', capable of accelerating particles to TeV energies. In this study, we examine the potential of a typical main-sequence star, represented by the Sun, to act as a source of TeV cosmic rays. We focus on identifying plausible mechanisms through which a quiescent star can accelerate charged particles to relativistic energies. We show that shock-drift acceleration processes operating within the chromospheres of the Sun and similar stars can accelerate particles to energies reaching the TeV scale. Additionally, we provide quantitative estimates of both the maximum achievable particle energies, spectral index of energy spectrum and the resulting cosmic-ray fluxes that such stellar environments could realistically produce. Our results indicate that ordinary stars could potentially contribute to the fine structure observed in the cosmic-ray spectrum at TeV energies and may help explain the local excess of TeV-scale electrons and positrons detected by H. E. S. S. and other observatories.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Published
2025-10-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/775y-bfp4
Primary Topic
Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Ordinary stars as potential TeV cosmic-ray accelerators

Arunava Bhadra, Prabir Banik, Sanjay K. Ghosh
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
article

Ordinary stars as potential TeV cosmic-ray accelerators

Arunava Bhadra, Prabir Banik, Sanjay K. Ghosh
article en

Abstract

Recent observations of cosmic rays increasingly point to the existence of nearby sources $\ensuremath{-}$ so-called ``local tevatrons'', capable of accelerating particles to TeV energies. In this study, we examine the potential of a typical main-sequence star, represented by the Sun, to act as a source of TeV cosmic rays. We focus on identifying plausible mechanisms through which a quiescent star can accelerate charged particles to relativistic energies. We show that shock-drift acceleration processes operating within the chromospheres of the Sun and similar stars can accelerate particles to energies reaching the TeV scale. Additionally, we provide quantitative estimates of both the maximum achievable particle energies, spectral index of energy spectrum and the resulting cosmic-ray fluxes that such stellar environments could realistically produce. Our results indicate that ordinary stars could potentially contribute to the fine structure observed in the cosmic-ray spectrum at TeV energies and may help explain the local excess of TeV-scale electrons and positrons detected by H. E. S. S. and other observatories.

Physical review. D/Physical review. D.Vol. 112(8)
Bose Institute (IN), North Bengal University (IN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 87%
Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
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