A possible mechanism for the generation of cosmic gamma-ray bursts and ultra-high-energy particles

A model is considered in which a body with a kinetic energy of about 10(41) erg falls onto a neutron star with a magnetic field of 10(12) O, generatin g cosmic gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and ultra high-energy particles (with ener gies to 10(19) eV). Examples of such bodies could be asteroids or comets wi th masses of the order of 10(20) g. The mechanism can generate particles (m ainly protons) with energies of 10(19) eV, which could be observed as broad atmospheric showers with lags of up to several months after the GRB. In th is case, some fraction of the GRB radiation should be coherent and circular ly polarized, in connection with induced transitions of electrons in invert ed levels in the magnetic field of the neutron star.