
arXiv: 1101.1155
Cosmic-rays with energies exceeding 10^{19} eV are referred to as Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs). The sources of these particles and their acceleration mechanism are unknown, and for many years have been the issue of much debate. The first part of this review describes the main constraints, that are implied by UHECR observations on the properties of candidate UHECR sources, the candidate sources, and the related main open questions. In order to address the challenges of identifying the UHECR sources and of probing the physical mechanisms driving them, a "multi-messenger" approach will most likely be required, combining electromagnetic, cosmic-ray and neutrino observations. The second part of the review is devoted to a discussion of high energy neutrino astronomy. It is shown that detectors, which are currently under construction, are expected to reach the effective mass required for the detection of high energy extra-Galactic neutrino sources, and may therefore play a key role in the near future in resolving the main open questions. The detection of high energy neutrinos from extra-Galactic sources will not only provide constraints on the identity and underlying physics of UHECR sources, but may furthermore provide information on fundamental neutrino properties.
16 pages, 10 figures; To be published in {\guillemotleft} Astronomy at the Frontiers of Science {\guillemotright}, ed. J.-P. Lasota, Springer 2011. The original publication will be available at http://www.springerlink.com
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE), High Energy Physics - Phenomenology, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph), FOS: Physical sciences, Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE), High Energy Physics - Phenomenology, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph), FOS: Physical sciences, Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 3 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
