Anisotropy in Cosmic rays from internal transitions in neutron stars

TL;DR

This paper proposes that internal phase transitions in neutron stars could produce quark matter droplets, which may explain observed anisotropic cosmic rays in the TeV-PeV range, linking astrophysical phenomena with exotic matter detection.

Contribution

It introduces a novel model connecting neutron star internal transitions to cosmic ray anisotropy via quark matter ejection and neutralization processes.

Findings

Model predicts quark matter droplets can cause cosmic ray anisotropy.

Neutralization in molecular clouds allows quasi-rectilinear trajectories.

Experimental data may help identify this exotic matter form.

Abstract

We discuss the possibility that some recently measured anisotropic cosmic ray components in the TeV-PeV energy range may be an indication of the ejection of a peculiar type of matter. We present a model where a neutron star internal transition with nuclear deconfinement of the quark content takes place. This catastrophic event may cause a mass ejection process seeding the insterstelar medium with droplets of quark matter, so called nuclearites. Neutralization of these droplets in molecular clouds may drive the anisotropy since quasi-rectilinear trajectories are allowed. Complementary information from current experimental settings on earth or magnetic spectrometers on the ISS may shed light on this exotic form of matter.