Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2000-05-22
Astrophys.J. 574 (2002) 65-87
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
53 pages, 8 figures, ApJ, in press, 574, July 20, 2002. Substantial revision, previous Appendix expanded to ApJ, 556, 479; cos
Scientific paper
10.1086/340893
The hypothesis that ultra-high energy (>~ 10^19 eV) cosmic rays (UHECRs) are accelerated by gamma-ray burst (GRB) blast waves is assumed to be correct. Implications of this assumption are then derived for the external shock model of gamma-ray bursts. The evolving synchrotron radiation spectrum in GRB blast waves provides target photons for the photomeson production of neutrinos and neutrons. Decay characteristics and radiative efficiencies of the neutral particles that escape from the blast wave are calculated. The diffuse high-energy GRB neutrino background and the distribution of high-energy GRB neutrino events are calculated for specific parameter sets, and a scaling relation for the photomeson production efficiency in surroundings with different densities is derived. GRBs provide an intense flux of high-energy neutrons, with neutron-production efficiencies exceeding ~ 1% of the total energy release. The radiative characteristics of the neutron beta-decay electrons from the GRB "neutron bomb" are solved in a special case. Galaxies with GRB activity should be surrounded by radiation halos of ~ 100 kpc extent from the outflowing neutrons, consisting of a nonthermal optical/X-ray synchrotron component and a high-energy gamma-ray component from Compton-scattered microwave background radiation. The luminosity of sources of GRBs and relativistic outflows in L* galaxies such as the Milky Way is at the level of ~10^40+-1 ergs/s. This is sufficient to account for UHECR generation by GRBs. We briefly speculate on the possibility that hadronic cosmic rays originate from the subset of supernovae that collapse to form relativistic outflows and GRBs. (abridged)
No associations
LandOfFree
Neutrino, Neutron, and Cosmic Ray Production in the External Shock Model of Gamma Ray Bursts does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Neutrino, Neutron, and Cosmic Ray Production in the External Shock Model of Gamma Ray Bursts, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Neutrino, Neutron, and Cosmic Ray Production in the External Shock Model of Gamma Ray Bursts will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-82491