Ultra high energy cosmic rays: the theoretical challenge

2000/02/01 by Angela V. Olinto, A. V. Olinto · 123 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Cosmic ray #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #High energy #Neutrino Physics Research #Nuclear physics #Particle physics #Physics #Ultra-high-energy cosmic ray #astro-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/s0370-1573(00)00028-4

published in Physics Reports 333-334, 329-348 (Elsevier BV) · 25 page review, 5 figs, to be published in the David Schramm Memorial Volume of Physics Reports, latex file; elsart

arxiv created 2000/02/01 · openalex publication_date 2000/08/01 · arxiv updated 2010/12/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

The origin of the highest-energy cosmic rays remains a mystery. The lack of a high energy cutoff in the cosmic ray spectrum together with an apparently isotropic distribution of arrival directions have strongly constrained most models proposed for the generation of these particles. An overview of the present state of theoretical proposals is presented. Astrophysical accelerators as well as top-down scenarios are reviewed along with their most general signatures. The origin and nature of these ultra-high energy particles will be tested by future observations and may indicate as well as constrain physics beyond the standard model of particle physics.

Citations

• Cosmic-ray neutrino annihilation on relic neutrinos revisited: a mechanism for generating air showers above the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cutoff
• The Demography of Massive Dark Objects in Galaxy Centers
• Monopole-antimonopole bound states as a source of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays
• Magnetized local supercluster and the origin of the highest energy cosmic rays
• Gamma rays from superheavy relic particles in the halo
• Topology of cosmic domains and strings
• Extension of the Cosmic-Ray Energy Spectrum beyond the Predicted Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min Cutoff

Cited by

• Ultrahigh-energy neutrino fluxes and their constraints
• Neutrino clustering in cold dark matter halos: Implications for ultrahigh energy cosmic rays
• Strangelets as Cosmic Rays beyond the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin Cutoff
• A search for observational manifestations of de Sitter relativity
• Astrophysical magnetic field reconstruction and spectroscopy with ultra high energy cosmic rays
• Astronomy with Ultra High‐Energy Particles
• The Astrophysics of Ultrahigh-Energy Cosmic Rays
• Particle Diffusion and Acceleration by Shock Waves in Magnetized Filamentary Turbulence
• Energy–momentum uncertainties as possible origin of threshold anomalies in UHECR and TeV-γ events
• Cosmogenic neutrinos from ultra-high energy nuclei
• Neutrino detection with inclined air showers
• Probing Physics at Extreme Energies with Cosmic Ultra-High Energy Radiation