Abstract.
Simple arguments concerning power and acceleration effciency show that ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRS) with energies \(\gtrsim 10^{19}\) eV could originate from GRBs. Neutrons formed through photo-pion production processes in GRB blast waves leave the acceleration site and travel through intergalactic space, where they decay and inject a very energetic proton and electron component into intergalactic space. The neutron-decay protons form a component of the UHECRs, whereas the neutron-decay electrons produce optical/X-ray synchrotron and gamma radiation from Compton-scattered background radiation. A significant fraction of galaxies with GRB activity should be surrounded by neutron-decay halos of characteristic size \(\sim 100\) kpc.
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Dermer, C.D. Ultra-high Energy Cosmic Rays and Neutron-Decay Halos from Gamma Ray Bursts. In: Costa, E., Frontera, F., Hjorth, J. (eds) Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Afterglow Era. ESO ASTROPHYSICS SYMPOSIA. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/10853853_71
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/10853853_71
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