A study of the correlation of EHE cosmic rays with gamma ray bursts

A study of space angles and temporal spacing was made for extremely-high energy (EHE) cosmic ray events to see ii there are any correlation with Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB's) recorded by the BATSE experiment on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. The results on the most generic correlation using all the recorded GRB's and EHECR's show no significant correlation. Nevertheless, the highest-energy cosmic ray "pair" events observed by the AGASA experiments appear to be correlated with the very high fluence GRB's. Some basis to form a GRB and a fireball is discussed. Empirical analysis of the GRB events strongly implied that the photonic field energy density in the source region should have exceeded the electric energy density of Schwinger field, A possible generation of an initial GRB, its fireball and relativistic shocks therein, is considered in terms of Schwinger field generated by radiation pressure of transient, high luminosity photons provided by collective nuclear collisions of neutron matter. Acceleration of electrons, and some protons, may be possible in the radial electrostatic Schwinger field. Ultra-relativistic shocks might also accelerate particles to certain high energies (gamma less than or equal to 10(12.15)). Neutral secondaries, including gamma rays, neutrinos, "strangelets," and Farrar's SUSY S-0 particles, are discussed as plausible EHECR pair candidates from GRB fireballs, The OWL/AIRWATCH may be able to explore them from 4 x 10(19) eV to well beyond 10(21) eV.