The Neutron as an Alternative Explanation for the Trans GZK Cosmic Rays

We consider the possibility that the particles in the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays arriving to Earth might be neutrons instead of protons. We stress that in such case the argument for the GZK cutoff is weaker and that it is conceivable that neutrons would not be affected by it. This scenario would...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2007-06
Main Authors: De Unánue, Adolfo, Sahu, Sarira, Sudarsky, Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cosmic rays
Dark matter
High energy astronomy
Intergalactic media
Neutrons
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:We consider the possibility that the particles in the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays arriving to Earth might be neutrons instead of protons. We stress that in such case the argument for the GZK cutoff is weaker and that it is conceivable that neutrons would not be affected by it. This scenario would require the neutron to start with an energy larger than the observed one, in order to be able to travel the distances involved, within its proper life-time. It must then loose most of the extra energy through interaction with the galactic dark matter or some other matter in the intergalactic medium.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.0605239