We investigate the escape process from a perpendicular shock region of a spherical shock in the interstellar medium. The diffusive shock acceleration in the perpendicular shock of supernova remnants (SNRs) has been expected to accelerate cosmic rays (CRs) to the PeV scale without an upstream magnetic field amplification. We estimate the maximum energy of CRs limited by the escape from the perpendicular shock region. By performing test particle simulations, we confirm the theoretical estimation, showing that the escape-limited maximum energy in the perpendicular shock is several 10 TeV for the typical type Ia SNRs. Therefore, in order for SNRs in the interstellar medium to accelerate CRs to the PeV scale, an upstream magnetic field amplification is needed. The characteristic energy scale of several 10 TeV could be the origin of the spectral break around 10 TeV, which was reported by recent direct CR observations. In addition, we show that, in the free expansion phase, the rapid perpendicular shock acceleration works on about 20% area of the whole shock surface, which is larger than the size of the superluminal shock region. We also discuss the escape of CR electrons from the perpendicular shock.

• Received 12 July 2021
• Accepted 30 September 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.104.083028