scientist have discovered that the centre of our galax may trap some of the highest - energy cosmic electron beam , producing bursts of Vasco da Gamma - rays that head our direction .
The study was carried out by an international team of astronomers , using data from the High Energy Stereoscopic System ( HESS ) in Namibia and NASA ’s Fermi Gamma - ray Space Telescope in , well , infinite . The finding are published in the journalPhysical Review Letters .
Cosmic shaft of light are high-pitched - energy particles that move through space at almost the speed of illumination , usually originating from thing like supernova . About 90 pct are protons , and when they interact with matter , they can make the eminent - free energy descriptor of light – gamma - rays .
Using Fermi and HESS , the team found evidence for extreme activity of Vasco da Gamma electron beam in the galactic centre . Specifically , they establish a glow that reached 50 trillion electron volt ( TeVs ) . Visible Christ Within , for comparison , commonly only reaches about two to three negatron V .
So , what ’s going on ? Well , Francis Reddy from NASA ’s Astrophysics Science Division state us the snare is thought to be triggered by gas cloud . As the cosmic rays make their style into the galaxy , these clouds push the highest - free energy cosmic electron beam to move slower . At this full point , the interaction of the particles and the accelerator pedal eject the very high - energy gamma rays view by the researchers .
“ It remains a mystery story where these extremely up-and-coming cosmic ray of light are being accelerate , but when they pass through the galactic center they are slow up more than expect , ” he said .
According to lead author Daniele Gaggero from the University of Amsterdam in astatement , this study propose that most of the cosmic rays in the innermost part of our galax amount from beyond the galactic center . It is only once they reach the pith that they are then slow down down through interactions with the natural gas clouds , or more specifically the bulge of the galaxy itself .
“ The cause for this phenomenon is not clear , but it should be explicate in the context of the physic account the fundamental interaction of cosmic shaft with the astronomic magnetic field , ” Gaggero told IFLScience .
Interestingly , this research could also explicate where neutrinos – indifferent subatomic particle with volume of almost zero – are coming from . They are the fast , lightest , and least understood fundamental subatomic particle , but because they barely interact with affair it ’s knotty to sour out their origins .
“ The findings from Fermi and HESS suggest the galactic mall could be detected as a inviolable neutrino source in the near future , and that ’s very exciting , ” said Regina Caputo , a Fermi team phallus who was not involved in the study , in the statement .
