by Playfuls Staff |
20th March 2007
A U.S.-led team of international astrophysicists has proposed a theory that might help explain a new type of cosmic [more] ray.
In 2002, when astronomers first detected cosmic gamma rays coming from the constellation Cygnus they were surprised, since that region lacks the extreme electromagnetic fields believed required to produce such energetic rays.
But now theoretical astrophysicists have proposed a mechanism to explain that mystery and also help account for another type of cosmic ray: the high-energy nuclei that rain down on Earth in the billions.
The theoretical study was headed by Thomas Weiler, professor of physics at Vanderbilt University, in collaboration with Luis Anchordoqui at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, John Beacom at Ohio State University, Haim Goldberg at Northeastern University, and Sergio Palomares-Ruiz at Britain's University of Durham.
The newly proposed mechanism posits how two constituents -- fast-moving nuclei found in stellar winds and ultraviolet light -- can interact to produce cosmic gamma rays.
The research appears in the online issue of the journal Physical Review Letters.
© 2007 UPI
