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Signs of PeVatrons in Gamma-Ray Haze
April 5, 2021•
Physics 14, 41
A diffuse glow of high-energy gamma rays hints at the presence of powerful cosmic accelerators, called PeVatrons, within the disk of our Galaxy.
Tibet AS
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AS experiment detects high-energy gamma rays by observing showers of particles produced when the gamma rays hit molecules in Earth’s atmosphere.
Tibet AS
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AS experiment detects high-energy gamma rays by observing showers of particles produced when the gamma rays hit molecules in Earth’s atmosphere.×
The interstellar medium is filled with relativistic charged particles mostly protons and helium nuclei. Spaceborne telescopes and earthbound observatories have revealed that these cosmic rays can have energies exceeding
An infrared image of dust clouds in the Cocoon nebula captured by NASA’s retired Spitzer Space Telescope. An overlay (in green to yellow to red) indicates rgions of gamma-ray emissions where cosmic rays may be generated. Image: TeV: Binita Hona (HAWC Collaboration), IR: Hora et. al, Spitzer’s Growing Legacy, ASP Conference Series, 2010, P. Ogle, ed.
Conventional wisdom holds that high-energy cosmic rays crashing into Earth’s atmosphere at the speed of light, triggering showers of cascading particles, are generated in powerful supernova blasts.
Not so fast, researchers say.
As it turns out, supernovae, which do indeed generate high-energy gamma rays, are not powerful enough to explain the petaelectronvolt (PeV) energies observed with the most extreme cosmic ray events. Instead of supernovae, new research suggests, star clusters featuring closely packed type O and type B stars are responsible, acting as so-called PeVatron accelerators.
Not So Fast, Supernova: Highest-energy Cosmic Rays Detected in Star Clusters mtu.edu - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mtu.edu Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.