COSMOLOGICAL GAMMA RAY BURSTS AND THE HIGHEST ENERGY COSMIC RAYS

Abstract

We discuss a scenario in which the highest energy cosmic rays (CR's) and cosmological $γ$-ray bursts (GRB's) have a common origin. This scenario is consistent with the observed CR flux above $10^{20}\text{eV}$, provided that each burst produces similar energies in $γ$-rays and in CR's above $10^{20}\text{eV}$. Protons may be accelerated by Fermi's mechanism to energies $\sim10^{20}\text{eV}$ in a dissipative, ultra-relativistic wind, with luminosity and Lorentz factor high enough to produce a GRB. For a homogeneous GRB distribution, this scenario predicts an isotropic, time-independent CR flux.

Phys. Rev. Lett. in press (Received: March 22, 1995; Accepted: May 17, 1995)