arXiv:astro-ph/0403515v1 22 Mar 2004 nrycsi asbyn 10 beyond ultrahigh rays for energy-loss cosmic candidates the energy mundane and circum- more problem facing which acceleration problems properties the have both matter) vent quark of lumps etoe nasnl edo olso ihaselrpro- stellar a with if collision ton head-on single a in destroyed e ayn tagltwt aynnumber baryon with strangelet A MeV of baryon. tens the some per exceeds be nuclei can which with energy, binding collisions strangelet inelastic in added ergy viable. Thus remains stars. [1] strange in fact presented in scenario known are the currently stars not neutron is all it that whether to argue, supposed be further are I will they transform. stars energies the relevant with collisions the in at destroyed strangelets because rect scenario stars the finds neutron unlikely. therefore all [1] and stars, that in strange argues, be further not can He quark strange stars. into stars matter trig- neutron would all strangelets of transformation energy ger ultrahigh of flux galactic a nuclei. omcrykntceeg nuiso 10 of units in energy kinetic ray cosmic taglt,ee ml u fsrneesa o en- low at strangelets of flux small a even to strangelets, seeds as stars. serve strange into than stars rather neutron collisions transform will [1] in in destroyed discussed strangelets be energy ultrahigh the demonstrate poorly that estimates is physics order-of-magnitude input these necessary known) to the of remains (much collisions. fragmentation studied later strangelet be in of details destruction the and to While strangelet, prone original be the therefore as baryon will per energy fac- and Lorentz tor same such the have in will formed collisions ultra-relativistic potentially fragments strangelet Smaller or oetruhattlclm fms ogl qa to to equal up roughly limit order mass mentation to of of strangelet i.e. column own, the its requires total star a the through in move rest to strangelet a emtia,wihcnrdc this reduce can than larger which section geometrical, cross scattering a have will strangelets nryprbro nuiso 0MV and MeV, 10 of units in baryon per energy n[]i a eosrtdta taglt (stable strangelets that demonstrated was it [1] In tagltfamnainwl cu ftettlen- total the if occur will fragmentation Strangelet incor- is [2] in assumption first the that show I Here such that argues [2] Balberg Comment preceding the In ncnrs oteeteeyhg nrycsi ray cosmic energy high extremely the to contrast In < A E col 3 el oCmeto taglt scsi asbyn h GZK the beyond rays cosmic as Strangelets on Comment to Reply × 10 = ASnmes 87.a 23.h 23.a 24.85.+p 12.39.Ba, 12.38.Mh, 98.70.Sa, numbers: PACS 10 eateto hsc n srnm,Uiest fAarhus, of University Astronomy, and Physics of Department 6 E 20 20 1 / eV 2 A E A < A B − olsoswt rtn rafrag- a or protons with collisions − 10 1 1 / E 2 10 where , 20 13 20 E > E V uha rtn and protons as such eV, 20 E bind E A B − B 10 1 lmtsomewhat). -limit 10 ≈ 20 hgl charged (highly stebinding the is V Bringing eV. 10 7 E Dtd coe ,2003) 8, October (Dated: eV A 20 AE ilbe will sthe is e Madsen Jes B 10 7 .Afr,JA oes n .Rjgpl hs Rev. Lett. Phys. Rev. Phys. Rajagopal, Madsen, K. J. and [8] Bowers, J.A. Alford, M. [7] 6 ..GednigadF ee,Atohs J. Astrophys. Weber, F. and Glendenning N.K. [6] 3 .Mde,Py.Rv Lett. Rev. Phys. Madsen, J. comment). (preceding [3] Balberg S. [2] 5 ..Apr hs e.Lett. Rev. Phys. Alpar, M.A. [5] 4 ..Clwl n ..Fida,Py.Lett. Phys. Friedman, J.L. and Caldwell R.R. [4] 1 .Mde n ..Lre,Py.Rv Lett. Rev. Phys. Larsen, J.M. and Madsen J. [1] hsc etrudrteDns ainlResearch National Research Science Danish Natural Council. Danish the the by and under Foundation, Center physics viable. remains [1] in presented rays cosmic ergy stars “neutron” all that stars. either, at strange out exist be ruled stars could not strange is Summarizing, whether it present but [2]. at all, in known mentioned not effects is it other the ex- counterexamples models for similar in ist consistent and phases, be also crystalline may with [8] stars color-flavor simplest strange the The locked out rule [7]. that instabilities matter r-mode quark dis- also recently color-superconducting may phases in crystalline and covered ordi- the [6], in with crusts explanation [5] consistent an nuclear find problem with marginally stars glitch be strange star to nary strange shown stars The strange been out has grounds. rule to these of premature on level r-mode current is glitches, the it at including understanding However and properties cooling. argument such and this of instabilities revives set [2] a Balberg lists properties. strange with star and (notably inconsistent ar- matter seemed pulsars was phenomenon) ruled of quark glitch this the it properties strange that some time stable [3]) because that of strangelets, in At hypothesis author and the present [3] ago. out the in into by decade detail (also stars a in gued shown neutron than first all more was convert [4] This to stars. able strange be would ergies hswr a upre yteTertclAstro- Theoretical the by supported was work This en- ultrahigh for scenario strangelet the conclusion, In (1998). D63 (1992). (2003). (1991). 706(2001). 074016 , DK-8000 ru ,Denmark C, Arhus ˚ 61 85 58 99(1988). 2909 , 0(2000); 10 , 12(1987). 2152 , -cutoff ibid 90 264B 400 81 121102 , 3311 , 647 , 143 ,