Researchers from the Telescope Array have detected an ultra-high energy cosmic ray (UHECR) with an energy of approximately 244 exa-electron volts, or about 40 Joules.
Gizmodo writes about it.
According to the researchers, this is one of the highest energy levels ever observed for cosmic rays. It is about a million times higher than what can be produced by the most powerful particle accelerators created by humans.
Such rays are extremely rare, coming from the depths of space only a few times a century. Researchers suggest that their source is supernovae or supermassive black holes.
However, the origin of this particular ray is unknown. Its direction does not coincide with any known space object, which casts doubt on current ideas about the origin of such particles.
Despite their enormous energy, such rays are safe for the Earth. The atmosphere and magnetic field reliably protect our planet from their influence.
What is Telescope Array
The Telescope Array project is a joint effort of universities and institutes from the United States, Japan, Korea, Russia, and Belgium that observes “air showers” caused by ultra-high energy cosmic rays. It is located in the Utah desert at an altitude of almost 1400 meters.
The Telescope Array detects extremely rare cosmic rays using a network of 507 stations located on an area of 700 square meters. km. They capture secondary particles that are formed when cosmic rays enter the atmosphere, creating large air showers (EAS).
The system contains plastic scintillators that glow when charged particles pass through them. It also has fluorescent detectors to measure EAS energy.
The data from the stations, analyzed using GPS timing and modeling, help determine the energy, mass, and direction of arrival of cosmic rays.
