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

TL;DR

This paper introduces a Lindbladian quantum electrodynamics model explaining the positron excess in cosmic rays, highlighting a new electroproduction mechanism and offering computational advantages for physics and chemistry.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel phenomenological Lindbladian model of quantum electrodynamics that accounts for cosmic ray positron excess through electroproduction processes.

Findings

The model explains the positron excess observed in cosmic rays.

Electroproduction is identified as a key process in cosmic ray positron generation.

The approach offers computationally efficient formulations for 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.