Finite temperature and chemical potential in lattice QCD and its critical point

We propose a method to study lattice QCD at finite temperature (T) and chemical potential (\mu). We compare the method with direct results and with the Glasgow method by using n_f=4 QCD at Im(\mu)\neq0. We locate the critical endpoint (E) of QCD on the Re(\mu)-T plane. We use n_f=2+1 dynamical staggered quarks with semi-realistic masses on L_t=4 lattices. Our results are based on {\cal{O}}(10^3-10^4) configurations.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. Talk given at the XXX. Hirschegg Workshop on Ultrarelativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions, January 13-19, 200

Ultrahigh energy cosmic rays as a Grand Unification signal

We analyze the spectrum of the ultrahigh energy (above \approx 10^{9} GeV) cosmic rays. With a maximum likelihood analysis we show that the observed spectrum is consistent with the decay of extragalactic GUT scale particles. The predicted mass for these superheavy particles is m_X=10^b GeV, where b=14.6_{-1.7}^{+1.6}.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, talk to be presented at the 27th International Cosmic Ray Conference, Hamburg, Germany, August 7-15, 200

Propagation of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and compact sources

The clustering of ultrahigh energy (>10^{20} eV) cosmic rays (UHECR) suggests that they might be emitted by compact sources. Statistical analysis (Dubovsky et al., 2000) estimated the source density. We extend their analysis to give also the confidence intervals (CI) for the source density using a.) no assumptions on the relationship between clustered and unclustered events; b.) nontrivial distributions for the source luminosities and energies; c.) the energy dependence of the propagation. We also determine the probability that a proton created at a distance r with energy E arrives at earth above a threshold E_c. Using this function one can determine the observed spectrum just by one numerical integration for any injection spectrum. The observed 14 UHECR events above 10^{20} eV with one doublet gives for the source densities 180_{-165}^{+2730}\cdot 10^{-3} Mpc^{-3} (on the 68% confidence level).Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, talk to be presented at the 27th International Cosmic Ray Conference, Hamburg, Germany, August 7-15, 200

Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays from Compact Sources

The clustering of ultra high energy (above 10^20 eV) cosmic rays (UHECR) suggests that they might be emitted by compact sources. Statistical analysis of Dubovsky et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 85 (2000) 1154) estimated the source density. We extend their analysis to give also the confidence intervals for the number of sources using a.) no assumptions on the relationship between clustered and unclustered events; b.) nontrivial distributions for the source intensities and energies; c.) the energy dependence of the propagation. We determine the probability that a proton created at a distance r with energy E arrives at earth above a threshold E_c. Using this function one can determine the observed spectrum just by one numerical integration for any injection spectrum. The observed 14 UHECR events above 10^20 eV with one doublet gives for the source densities 180_-165^+2730*10^-3 Mpc^-3 (on the 68% confidence level). We present detailed results for future experiments with larger UHECRs statistics.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Lattice QCD results at finite T and \mu

We propose a method to study lattice QCD at finite temperature (T) and chemical potential (\mu). We test the method and compare it with the Glasgow method using n_f=4 staggered QCD with imaginary \mu. The critical endpoint (E) of QCD on the Re(\mu)-T plane is located. We use n_f=2+1 dynamical staggered quarks with semi-realistic masses on L_t=4 lattices. Our results are based on {\cal{O}}(10^3-10^4) configurations.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. Talk given at Budapest'02 Workshop on Quark and Hadron Dynamics, Budapest, March 3-7, 200

QCD phase diagram and the critical point

The recent progress in understanding the QCD phase diagram and the physics of the QCD critical point is reviewed.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures, for proceedings of "Finite Density QCD at Nara", July 200

Strongly interacting neutrinos as the highest energy cosmic rays

We show that all features of the ultrahigh energy cosmic ray spectrum from 10^{17} eV to 10^{21} eV can be described with a simple power-like injection spectrum of protons under the assumption that the neutrino-nucleon cross-section is significantly enhanced at center of mass energies above \approx 100 TeV. In our scenario, the cosmogenic neutrinos produced during the propagation of protons through the cosmic microwave background initiate air showers in the atmosphere, just as the protons. The total air shower spectrum induced by protons and neutrinos shows excellent agreement with the observations. A particular possibility for a large neutrino-nucleon cross-section exists within the Standard Model through electroweak instanton-induced processes.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, talk given at Beyond the Desert '03, Castle Ringberg, 9-14 June, 200

The critical point of lattice QCD on the \mu-T plane

We propose a method to study lattice QCD at finite temperature and chemical potential. We compare it with direct results and with the Glasgow method by using n_f=4 QCD at Im(\mu)\neq 0. We locate the critical endpoint (E) of QCD on the Re(\mu)-T plane. In this study we use n_f=2+1 dynamical staggered quarks with semi-realistic masses on L_t=4 lattices.Comment: 5 pages, 3 Figures. Talk given at EPS HEP2001, July 12-18,2001 Budapes