Search for cosmic-ray point sources with KASCADE

Abstract

A survey of the northern hemisphere for astrophysical point sources with continuous emission of high-energy cosmic rays is presented. Around 47 Mio extensive air showers with primary energies above $\approx$ 300 TeV measured by the KASCADE detector field are selected for this analysis. Besides the sky survey, a search for signal excess in the region of the galactic plane and of selected point source candidates has been performed. There is no evidence for any significant excess. This is valid for an analysis of all recorded showers as well as for a data set enhanced in gamma-ray induced showers. An upper flux limit of around $3\times 10^{-10}$ m$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ for a steady point source that transits the zenith is obtained. Additionally, the distribution of the arrival directions of extensive air showers with energies above 80 PeV were studied by an autocorrelation analysis.