Pierre Auger Data, Photons, and Top-Down Cosmic Ray Models
Nicolas Busca, Dan Hooper, Edward W. Kolb
Abstract
We consider the ultra-high energy cosmic ray (UHECR) spectrum as measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory. Top-down models for the origin of UHECRs predict an increasing photon component at energies above about 1019.7eV. Here we present a simple prescription to compare the Auger data with a prediction assuming a pure proton component or a prediction assuming a changing primary component appropriate for a top-down model. We find that the UHECR spectrum predicted in top-down models is a good fit to the Auger data. Eventually, Auger will measure a composition-independent spectrum and will be capable of either confirming or excluding the quantity of photons predicted in top-down models.
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