Theoretical challenges in acceleration and transport of ultra high energy cosmic rays: A review

Abstract

The wealth of data collected in the last few years thanks to the Pierre Auger Observatory and recently to the Telescope Array made the problem of the origin of ultra high energy cosmic rays a genuinely experimental/observational one. The apparently contradictory results provided by these experiments in terms of spectrum, chemical composition and anisotropies do not allow to reach any final conclusions as yet. Here I will discuss some of the theoretical challenges imposed by these data: in particular I will discuss some issues related to the transition from Galactic to extragalactic cosmic rays and how the different models confront our understanding of Galactic cosmic rays in terms of supernova remnants paradigm. I will also discuss the status of theories aiming at describing acceleration of cosmic rays to the highest energies in relativistic shocks and unipolar inductors. © Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2013.