Title: Scientists Identify Rare Cosmic Ray “Amaterasu Particle” From Beyond Milky Way
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists in Utah have identified an ultra-high-energy cosmic ray that is believed to have originated from beyond the Milky Way galaxy. Named the “Amaterasu particle” after the Japanese sun goddess, this rare subatomic entity has left space scientists puzzled about its mysterious source.
The findings, published in the journal Science, reveal that the energy of the Amaterasu particle rivals that of the record-setting “Oh-My-God particle” observed in 1991. John Matthews, a spokesperson for Telescope Array and coauthor of the study, expressed his astonishment, stating, “In the case of the Oh-My-God particle and this new particle, you trace its trajectory to its source and there’s nothing high energy enough to have produced it. That’s the mystery of this — what the heck is going on?”
Typically, cosmic rays, charged particles that constantly shower Earth, originate from the sun. However, high-energy cosmic rays like the Amaterasu particle are exceptional and are thought to come from other galaxies and extragalactic sources.
Telescope Array, an observatory in Utah’s West Desert, identified the Amaterasu particle using 507 surface detectors over 270 square miles. The particle struck the atmosphere on May 27, 2021, triggering 23 surface detectors and giving off energy equaling about 244 exa-electron volts, just shy of the “Oh-My-God” particle’s 320 exa-electron volts.
Furthermore, the observed particles, including the Amaterasu particle, appear to emerge from voids or seemingly empty space. Unlike low-energy cosmic rays, whose origins are traceable, ultra-high-energy particles such as this one seem to come from voids in space. The Amaterasu particle is believed to originate from the Local Void, an empty region of space bordering the Milky Way galaxy.
The discovery has left the scientific community eager for further research and understanding of this cosmic phenomenon. Telescope Array’s expansion, with an additional 500 detectors covering an extensive area nearly the size of Rhode Island, aims to capture cosmic ray-induced particle showers and provide further insights into other cosmic mysteries.
This fascinating discovery opens up new possibilities for understanding the origin of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and sheds light on the enigmatic nature of the universe beyond our own galaxy.