Models of spectral bumps of primary cosmic rays and multi-messenger tests

Abstract

The energy spectra of individual species of cosmic ray nuclei by recent direct detection experiments show complicated structures with spectral hardenings and softenings rather than featureless power laws, which challenge the traditional understanding of the production, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. Particularly, the DAMPE measurements reveal charge-dependent softenings and reject mass-dependent softenings with a high significance. Taking into account the correlated structures at similar energies in the large-scale anisotropies of cosmic rays, one of the most natural interpretations of the spectral structures is the presence of a nearby cosmic ray source. In this case, the softening energies correspond to the acceleration upper limits of such a source, forming the so-called Peters cycle of the spectra. Alternative models such as the injection/acceleration and propagation models may also reproduce the spectral bumps, but show difficulty to explain the anisotropies. Fluxes of secondary nuclei and $γ$ rays offer additional tests of different models. Future multi-messenger observations are expected to be able to pin down the origin of cosmic rays.