Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays and Inflation

Abstract

Two processes of matter creation after inflation: 1) gravitational creation of superheavy (quasi)stable particles, and 2) non-thermal phase transitions leading to formation of topological defects, may be relevant to the resolution of the puzzle of cosmic rays observed with energies beyond GZK cut-off. Both possibilities are reviewed in this talk.

Comments: 6 pages, to appear in "Particle Physics and the Early Universe (COSMO-98)", ed. by David O. Caldwell, American Institute of Physics