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The rise and fall of top-down models as main UHECR sources

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arxiv 0810.3017 v2 pith:X3PWU3OB submitted 2008-10-16 astro-ph hep-ph

classification astro-phhep-ph
keywords searchesuhecrdarkdefectsmainmattermodelsmotivation
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The motivation and the current status of top-down models as sources of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays (UHECR) are reviewed. Stimulated by the AGASA excess, they were proposed as the main source of UHECRs beyond the GZK cutoff. Meanwhile searches for their signatures have limited their contribution to the UHECR flux to be subdominant, while the theoretical motivation for these searches remained strong: Topological defects are a generic consequence of Grand Unified Theories and superheavy particles are a creditable dark matter candidate. While Fermi/GLAST results should help to improve soon bounds on topological defects from the diffuse gamma-ray background, the most promising detection method are UHE neutrino searches. Superheavy dark matter can be restricted or detected by its characteristic galactic anisotropy combined with searches for UHE photons.

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  1. Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays

    astro-ph.HE 2025-05 unverdicted

    A comprehensive review concluding that UHECRs are likely heavy nuclei and that accretion shocks and jets are the most promising sources, with no new experimental results.

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