Phys.org - 10/16/12
New type of cosmic ray discovered after 100 years. The region of the Arches cluster seen in X-rays (contours) and in the near infrared (background image). The infrared map is obtained from observations by the Hubble space telescope at the 1.875 µm wavelength (data taken from Dong et al. 2011, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 417, 114). The contours show the strength of the neutral iron line observed by XMM-Newton around the star cluster (located in the center of the image). The X-ray emission is produced by cosmic rays accelerated in the shock wave formed in the interstellar medium by the supersonic motion of the cluster. In the image, the cluster is traveling from right to left at about 700 000 km/h. Credit: V. Tatischeff.
(Phys.org)—Using the European X-ray astronomy satellite XMM-Newton, researchers from CNRS and CEA have discovered a new source of cosmic rays. In the vicinity of the remarkable Arches cluster, near the center of the Milky Way, these particles are accelerated in the shock wave generated by tens of thousands of young stars moving at a speed of around 700,000 km/h.
These cosmic rays produce a characteristic X-ray emission by interacting with the atoms in the surrounding gas. Their origin differs from that of the cosmic rays discovered exactly a hundred years ago by Victor Hess, which originate in the explosions of supernovae. The findings are published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
These cosmic rays produce a characteristic X-ray emission by interacting with the atoms in the surrounding gas. Their origin differs from that of the cosmic rays discovered exactly a hundred years ago by Victor Hess, which originate in the explosions of supernovae. The findings are published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
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New type of cosmic ray discovered after 100 years Enlarge The region of the Arches cluster seen in X-rays (contours) and in the near infrared (background image). The infrared map is obtained from observations by the Hubble space telescope at the 1.875 µm wavelength (data taken from Dong et al. 2011, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 417, 114). The contours show the strength of the neutral iron line observed by XMM-Newton around the star cluster (located in the center of the image). The X-ray emission is produced by cosmic rays accelerated in the shock wave formed in the interstellar medium by the supersonic motion of the cluster. In the image, the cluster is traveling from right to left at about 700 000 km/h. Credit: V. Tatischeff. (Phys.org)—Using the European X-ray astronomy satellite XMM-Newton, researchers from CNRS and CEA have discovered a new source of cosmic rays. In the vicinity of the remarkable Arches cluster, near the center of the Milky Way, these particles are accelerated in the shock wave generated by tens of thousands of young stars moving at a speed of around 700,000 km/h. These cosmic rays produce a characteristic X-ray emission by interacting with the atoms in the surrounding gas. Their origin differs from that of the cosmic rays discovered exactly a hundred years ago by Victor Hess, which originate in the explosions of supernovae. The findings are published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-cosmic-ray-years.html#jCp
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-cosmic-ray-years.html#jCp
