Researchers
using the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina have discovered that
the highest-energy cosmic rays that bombard Earth actually come from
galaxies far, far away.
Cosmic rays are atomic nuclei of
elements ranging from hydrogen to iron that zip through outer space near
the speed of light. The sun emits relatively low-energy cosmic rays,
but since over 50 years ago, scientists have also been detecting
ultra-high-energy cosmic rays more powerful than those produced by
particle accelerators hitting Earth.
In order to discover the
origins of these cosmic rays, scientists looked for the calling card of
these rays: sprays of electrons, photons and other particle that are
produced when cosmic rays hit the top of Earth's atmosphere. Using data
collected from between 2004 and 2016 by the Pierre Auger Observatory, it
was found that most high-energy cosmic rays originated from a broad
area of sky about 90 degrees away from the direction of the Milky Way's
core.
This direction is a place "with an increased density of
nearby galaxies," said Karl-Heinz Kampert, an astrophysicist at the
University of Wuppertal in Germany. "These
galaxies, or some subset of these galaxies, contain the sources of these
cosmic rays."
Read more about this fascinating story at: https://www.space.com/38223-powerful-cosmic-rays-galaxy-far-away.html
Image Credit:
Credit: A. Chantelauze/S. Staffi/L. Bret
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Monday, September 25, 2017
ULTRA-HIGH-ENERGY COSMIC RAYS COME FROM GALAXIES FAR AWAY
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