High-Energy Cosmic Rays and Neutrinos from Gamma-Ray Bursts

Abstract

A complete model for the origin of high-energy >~10^{14} eV) cosmic rays from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and implications of this hypothesis are described. Detection of high-energy neutrinos from GRBs provide an unambiguous test of the model. Evidence for cosmic-ray acceleration in GRBs is suggested by the detection of anomalous gamma-ray components such as that observed from GRB 941017. Neutron beta-decay halos around star-forming galaxies such as the Milky Way are formed as a consequence of this model. Cosmic rays from GRBs in the Galaxy are unlikely to account for the ~10^{18} eV cosmic-ray excess reported by the Sydney University Giant Air Shower Recorder (SUGAR), but could contribute to past extinction events.

arXiv comment8 pages, 4 figures, proceedings of the 4th Workshop Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Afterglow Era, Rome,18-22 October 2004. Editors: L. Piro, L. Amati, S. Covino, and B. Gendre. Il Nuovo Cimento, in press