Ultrahigh-energy Cosmic Rays and Black Hole Mergers
Abstract
The recent detection of the gravitational-wave source GW150914 by the LIGO collaboration motivates a speculative source for the origin of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays as a possible byproduct of the immense energies achieved in black hole (BH) mergers, provided that the BHs have spin, as seems inevitable, and there are relic magnetic fields and disk debris remaining from the formation of the BHs or from their accretion history. We argue that given the modest efficiency \lt 0.01 required per event per unit of gravitational-wave energy release, merging BHs potentially provide an environment for accelerating cosmic rays to ultrahigh energies. The presence of tidally disrupted planetary or asteroidal debris could lead to associated fast radio bursts.
- Publication:
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The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- June 2016
- DOI:
- 10.3847/2041-8205/823/2/L29
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1602.06961
- Bibcode:
- 2016ApJ...823L..29K
- Keywords:
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- astroparticle physics;
- gravitational waves;
- stars: black holes;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- 4 pages, version to appear in ApJ Lett., minor changes, but one significant new point: connection made with fast radio bursts