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Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays from relic topological defects.
- Source :
-
AIP Conference Proceedings . 2001, Vol. 586 Issue 1, p844. 6p. - Publication Year :
- 2001
-
Abstract
- It is difficult for conventional sources to accelerate cosmic ray particles to the highest energies that have been observed. Topological defects such as monopoles and strings overcome this difficulty, because their natural energy scale is at or above the observed energies. Monopoles connected by strings are a particularly attractive source, because they would cluster in the galactic halo and thus explain the absence of the GZK cutoff. Heavy monopoles connected by light strings could last for the age of the universe as required. Further observations might support this model by detection of the anisotropy due to the halo, or might refute such models if strong clustering of arrival directions or correlations with known astrophysical objects are confirmed. All top-down models must contend with recent claims that the percentage of photons among the cosmic rays is smaller than such models predict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *COSMIC rays
*PARTICLE acceleration
*MAGNETIC monopoles
*GALACTIC halos
*ANISOTROPY
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0094243X
- Volume :
- 586
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- AIP Conference Proceedings
- Publication Type :
- Conference
- Accession number :
- 6178697