On the common origin of cosmic rays across the ankle and diffuse neutrinos at the highest energies from low-luminosity Gamma-Ray Bursts

TL;DR

This paper proposes that low-luminosity Gamma-Ray Bursts (LL-GRBs) can simultaneously explain the origin of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and diffuse neutrinos at the highest energies through nuclear cascades in their jets.

Contribution

It introduces a model linking LL-GRBs to both cosmic rays and neutrinos, consistent with observations and population studies, highlighting their potential as a common origin.

Findings

UHECR spectrum and composition explained by LL-GRBs

Diffuse neutrino flux at highest energies accounted for

Source parameters align with population studies

Abstract

We demonstrate that the UHECRs produced in the nuclear cascade in the jet of Low-Luminosity Gamma-Ray Bursts (LL-GRBs) can describe the UHECR spectrum and composition and, at the same time, the diffuse neutrino flux at the highest energies. The radiation density in the source simultaneously controls the neutrino production and the development of the nuclear cascade, leading to a flux of nucleons and light nuclei describing even the cosmic-ray ankle at $5 \times 10^{18}$ eV. The derived source parameters are consistent with population studies, indicating a baryonic loading factor of about ten. Our results motivate the continued experimental search of LL-GRBs as a unique GRB population.