When Black Holes Spark: How Relativistic Discharges Forge Cosmic Antimatter

We investigate the mechanisms of antimatter production in extreme astrophysical environments surrounding near maximally rotating black holes (BHs).

Our analysis predicts the observable presence of antimatter nuclei in cosmic rays -such as those detected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) on the ISS, and other experiments- originating from BH-driven jets and winds. We present a detailed examination of magnetic field configurations within the ergosphere, where the magnetic components scale as given by the Einstein and Maxwell equations, but converging to the Parker limit expressions at large radii. These fields govern angular momentum transport and energize relativistic outflows, generating highly magnetized plasmas with extreme particle densities and pressures. Within these regions, hadronic interactions in dense pion clouds can yield significant quantities of antimatter, including antiprotons and heavier anti-nuclei such as anti-deuterium, anti-tritium, and two isotopes of anti-helium. This production process naturally connects to the observed spectra of cosmic rays and ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. Observations of filamentary radio structures in our Galaxy, as well as in galaxies such as M82 and ESO 137-006 reveal morphologies consistent with relativistic electric discharges powered by rapidly spinning BHs, capable of accelerating particles to near ZeV energies. Analogous to the early universe we propose a stepwise nuclear reaction chain for the synthesis of antimatter nuclei, using the relevant cross sections and reaction rates. Moreover, we speculate on an intriguing correspondence between angular momentum transport rates, power and Planck-rates for pure spin-down, suggesting a fundamental connection between microphysical timescales and large-scale astrophysical dynamics. We emphasize the critical roles of electric currents, discharges, and relativistic shocks in driving particle acceleration. Observational evidence supports the hypothesis that large-scale filamentary radio structures serve as macroscopic signatures of these electrodynamic processes. Our results constrain the required energy budgets and plasma conditions for efficient antimatter generation in and near black hole ergospheres, offering new insights into the origin and propagation of cosmic rays.