Excess of positrons in cosmic rays: A Lindbladian model of quantum electrodynamics

Abstract

The fraction of positrons and electrons in cosmic rays recently observed on the International Space Station unveiled an unexpected excess of the positrons, undermining the current foundations of cosmic rays sources. We provide a quantum electrodynamics phenomenological model explaining the observed data. This model incorporates electroproduction, in which cosmic ray electrons decelerating in the interstellar medium emit photons that turn into electron-positron pairs. These findings not only advance our knowledge of cosmic ray physics, but also pave the way for computationally efficient formulations of quantum electrodynamics, critically needed in physics and chemistry.