High-energy cosmic rays, emanating from extreme astronomical environments such as those near black holes and neutron stars, possess energy levels far exceeding those of particles energized by the Sun.
According to scientists, these particles carry energy approximately 10 million times greater than that of particles accelerated in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) – the most powerful machine ever built by humans.
For many years, the prevailing theory suggested that high-energy cosmic rays derive their energy from shocks in the astronomical environment, such as massive stellar explosions that create black holes.
The magnetic fields in these astronomical environments are often chaotic, twisted, and change dramatically. (Illustration: Eurasia Review).
However, a new study published this week in the scientific journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters has proposed an alternative mechanism: magnetic turbulence.
According to researchers, the magnetic fields in these astronomical settings are typically in a chaotic, twisted state, and undergo significant changes. These fluctuations can accelerate particles to enormous energy levels before they are abruptly stopped.
Luca Comisso, a scientist at Columbia University’s Astrophysical Laboratory and co-author of the study, stated: “These findings enhance our understanding of how cosmic rays gain energy and provide answers to long-standing questions in both astrophysics and particle physics.”
Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays can reach energies up to 10²⁰ electron volts, while solar energetic particles only achieve around 10¹⁰ electron volts – a difference of 10 orders of magnitude.
This disparity is akin to comparing a grain of rice weighing 0.05 grams to an Airbus A380 weighing 500 tons.
Interestingly, both of these vastly different astronomical environments share a common factor: the turbulence of the magnetic field plays a crucial role in providing energy to the particles.
Professor Glennys R. Farrar at New York University, a co-author of the paper, affirmed: “Observational data has favored the theory of magnetic turbulence over shock acceleration. This is a significant breakthrough for the field of astrophysics.”
This discovery not only opens up a new understanding of the energy origins in cosmic rays but also contributes to unraveling the mysteries related to particle acceleration mechanisms in the extreme environments of the universe.
It also complements previous research on the energy sources from the Sun, aiding in better predictions of the formation of energetic particles in both near and distant cosmic regions.
