Topological Defect Models of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays

Abstract

We give an overview over models in which cosmic rays above 1 EeV = 10**(18) eV are produced by the decay of supermassive "X" particles released from topological defects possibly created in cosmological phase transitions. We note that, for an interesting particle physics parameter range, these models are still consistent with current data, and discuss signatures for the topological defect mechanism which can be tested by the next generation experiments.