Related papers: Superstring Relics, Supersymmetric Fragmentation a…
Assuming that there is no GZK (Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin) cut-off and that super-GZK cosmic rays correlate with AGN (Active Galactic Nuclei) at cosmological distances, it is speculated that a relic superheavy particle (X) has its lifetime…
Cosmic strings are linear concentrations of energy that may be formed at phase transitions in the very early universe. At one time they were thought to provide a possible origin for the density inhomogeneities from which galaxies eventually…
String theory suggests the existence of a minimum length scale. An exciting quantum mechanical implication of this feature is a modification of the uncertainty principle. In contrast to the conventional approach, this generalised…
The decay of very heavy metastable relics of the Early Universe can produce ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) in the halo of our own Galaxy. In this model, no Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cutoff is expected because of the short propagation…
We revisit constraints on decaying very heavy dark matter (VHDM) using the latest ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray (UHECR; $E\gtrsim 10^{18}$ eV) data and ultrahigh-energy (UHE) $\gamma$-ray flux upper limits, measured by the Pierre Auger…
Cosmic strings are linear concentrations of energy that form whenever phase transitions in the early universe break axial symmetries as originally shown by Kibble. They are the result of frustrated order in the quantum fields responsible…
The conjecture that ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) are actually strangelets is discussed. Besides the reason that strangelets can do as cosmic rays beyond the GZK-cutoff, another argument to support the conjecture is addressed in…
It is possible that superstrings, as well as other one-dimensional branes, could have been produced in the early universe and then expanded to cosmic size today. I discuss the conditions under which this will occur, and the signatures of…
Cosmic-rays with energies exceeding 10^{19} eV are referred to as Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs). The sources of these particles and their acceleration mechanism are unknown, and for many years have been the issue of much debate.…
We show that ``top-down'' mechanisms of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays which involve heavy relic particle-like objects predict Galactic anisotropy of highest energy cosmic rays at the level of minimum $\sim 20%$. This anisotropy is large…
We propose a new mechanism for explaining the very long lifetime of superheavy dark matter X, which is proposed as a source of the ultra high-energy cosmic rays above the GZK cutoff (5 \times 10^{19} eV). The singlet X particle couples to…
Decays of superheavy relic particles may produce extremely energetic neutrinos. Their annihilations on the relic neutrinos can be the origin of the cosmic rays with energies beyond the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cutoff. The red shift acts as a…
We consider the possibility that ultra-high energy cosmic rays originate from the annihilation of relic superheavy dark-matter particles. We find that a cross section of <sigma_A v> ~ 10^{-26}cm^2 (M_X/10^{12}GeV)^{3/2} is required to…
The Ultra High Energy (UHE) neutrino scattering onto relic cosmic neutrinos in galactic and local halos offers an unique way to overcome GZK cut-off. The UHE nu secondary of UHE photo-pion decays may escape the GZK cut-off and travel on…
Transrelativistic supernovae (SNe), which are likely driven by central engines via jets or winds, have been among candidate sources of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). We investigate acceleration and survival of UHECR nuclei in the…
I present some new perspectives on Dark Matter, Dark Energy and the origin of structure in the Universe. First, I argue that in order to understand the two latter issues, one needs to go beyond a standard point particle effective field…
Cosmic strings are one-dimensional topological defects which could have been formed in the early stages of our Universe. They triggered a lot of interest, mainly for their cosmological implications: they could offer an alternative to…
I describe our understanding of physics near the planck length, in particular the great progress of the last four years in string theory. Superstring theory, and a recent extension called M theory, are leading candidates for a quantum…
Significant progress has been made over the past decades towards unveiling the sources of the most energetic particles in nature, the ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). Despite these advancements, the exact astrophysical sites capable…
The detection of High Energy Cosmic Rays (HECR) with energies around and beyond GZK expected cutoff has introduced the idea of existence of a decaying Ultra Heavy Dark Matter (UHDM). If this type of particles make a substantial part of the…