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Cosmic Rays from Gamma Ray Bursts in the Galaxy

Charles D. Dermer·Jeremy M. Holmes
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Abstract

The rate of terrestrial irradiation events by galactic gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is estimated using recent standard-energy results. We assume that GRBs accelerate high-energy cosmic rays, and present results of three-dimensional simulations of cosmic rays moving in the Galactic magnetic field and diffusing through pitch-angle scattering. An on-axis GRB extinction event begins with a powerful prompt gamma-ray and neutron pulse, followed by a longer-lived phase from cosmic-ray protons and neutron-decay protons that diffuse towards Earth. Our results force a reinterpretation of reported ~ 10^{18} eV cosmic-ray anisotropies and offer a rigorous test of the model where high-energy cosmic rays originate from GRBs, which will soon be tested with the Auger Observatory.

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Charles D. Dermer, Jeremy M. Holmes. 2005-06-16. Cosmic Rays from Gamma Ray Bursts in the Galaxy. https://doi.org/10.1086/432663

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