Telescope Array Observes Second Highest-Energy Cosmic Ray on Record
Cosmic rays are high-energy particles that originate from outer space and constantly bombard the Earth’s atmosphere. They consist of protons, electrons, and atomic nuclei, with energies ranging from a few million electron volts to several hundred million billion electron volts. These particles travel at nearly the speed of light and can carry as much energy as a speeding baseball.
Studying cosmic rays is crucial for understanding the universe’s most extreme phenomena, such as supernovae, black holes, and even the Big Bang. However, detecting and measuring these particles is a challenging task due to their rarity and high energies. Recently, the Telescope Array (TA) collaboration, an international team of scientists, made a groundbreaking observation by detecting the second highest-energy cosmic ray ever recorded.
The Telescope Array is located in the desert of Utah, USA, covering an area of about 700 square miles. It consists of an array of 507 particle detectors called scintillation detectors, spread across the desert floor. These detectors are sensitive to the faint flashes of light produced when cosmic rays interact with the Earth’s atmosphere.
On August 3, 2019, the TA collaboration detected an ultra-high-energy cosmic ray with an energy of approximately 1.2 exa-electron volts (EeV). To put this into perspective, this energy is equivalent to that of a tennis ball traveling at about 60 miles per hour. This observation marks the second-highest energy ever recorded, just below the record-breaking cosmic ray observed in 2017 with an energy of 2 EeV.
The detection of such high-energy cosmic rays provides valuable insights into the processes occurring in the most extreme astrophysical environments. Scientists believe that these particles are accelerated by powerful cosmic accelerators, such as supermassive black holes or active galactic nuclei. By studying their properties and arrival directions, researchers can gain a better understanding of the origin and nature of these cosmic accelerators.
The Telescope Array collaboration is continuously working to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of their detectors. They are also collaborating with other cosmic ray observatories worldwide to combine data and increase the chances of detecting even higher-energy cosmic rays. This global effort aims to unravel the mysteries surrounding these particles and their sources.
In addition to studying cosmic rays, the Telescope Array also contributes to other areas of astrophysics. It observes meteor showers, monitors space weather, and searches for transient astronomical events, such as gamma-ray bursts and gravitational waves. The array’s versatility allows scientists to explore various aspects of the universe and deepen our understanding of its workings.
The recent observation of the second highest-energy cosmic ray by the Telescope Array collaboration is a significant milestone in the field of astrophysics. It highlights the progress made in detecting and studying these elusive particles and brings us closer to unraveling the mysteries of the universe. As technology advances and collaborations continue to grow, we can expect even more groundbreaking discoveries in the future, shedding light on the most extreme phenomena in our cosmos.
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