2023-11-24 16:08:14
Astrophysicists of the Osaka Metropolitan University (Japan) have successfully detected a ultra-energetic cosmic ray with an energy level comparable to that of the most energetic cosmic ray ever observed, captured in 1991.
Cosmic rays come from galactic and extragalactic sources, but do not typically contain extremely high energy, making these types of rays extremely rare. They can reach more than 1018 electron volts, approximately million of times more than what was achieved by accelerators further potent manufactured by being human.
“When I first discovered this ultra-high energy cosmic ray, I thought it must be a mistake, since it showed a level of energy unprecedented in the last three decades”confesses the professor associated with the Osaka Metropolitan University, Toshihiro Fujiiwhich has been going on since 2008along with other scientists, studying cosmic rays with a specialized detector which consists of 507 stations and covering an area of 700 square kilometers in Utah (United States).
Among the many candidates to name the particle, Professor Fujii and his colleagues decided on ‘Amaterasu’in honor of the Goddess of the sun which, according to Shinto beliefs, contributed decisively to the creation of Japan.
Researchers don’t know where it came from or what exactly it was, but they are hoping it will pave the way to clarifying the origins of cosmic rays.
Related news
“No promising astronomical object has been identified that matches the direction from which the cosmic ray arrived, suggesting possibilities for unknown astronomical phenomena and novel physical origins beyond the Standard Model”Fujii reflected.
The professor concluded his statement by reaffirming the researchers’ commitment to continue operating the experiment. Telescope Array to know in detail the source of this very particle “energetics”the cosmic ray.
#mystery #cosmic #ray #fascinates #astronomers