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The Top--Down Interpretation of Ultra--High Energy Cosmic Rays

Manuel Drees
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Abstract

The origin of Ultra--High Energy ($E \gsim 10^{20}$ eV) Cosmic Rays (UHECR) remains mysterious. I discuss ``top--down'' models, where UHECR originate from the decay of very massive, long--lived particles. I summarize the calculation of the spectrum of decay products, discuss possible problems with this scenario, and describe ways to test it by searching for very energetic neutrinos and neutralinos.

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Manuel Drees. 2003-10-29. The Top--Down Interpretation of Ultra--High Energy Cosmic Rays. https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0310331

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