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> More recent studies using the Telescope Array Project have suggested a source of the particles within a 20 degree radius "warm spot" in the direction of the c

> More recent studies using the Telescope Array Project have suggested a source of the particles within a 20 degree radius "warm spot" in the direction of the constellation Ursa Major. https://www.science.org/content/article/physicists-spot-potential-source-oh-my-god-particles https://www.science.org/content/article/physicists-spot-pote...

marcellus23 3y ago
Some choice interesting quotes about the potential origin of such particles: > Instead, theorists generally expect that the most energetic cosmic rays rev up over millions of years in unidentified accelerators the size of galaxies. > Physicists think that the highest energy cosmic rays cannot come from more than 500 million light-years away, as interactions with lingering radiation from the big bang ought to snuff out cosmic rays from more distant sources. But no obvious candidate for a nearby cosmic accelerator lies directly in line with the hotspot, Sokolsky says. He notes, however, that in that region a filament of galaxies kinks toward Earth and speculates that magnetic fields in that string might help rev up particles.
- ambicapter 3y ago
  Just imagining a single particle hitting the perfect spot and just getting massively accelerated by thousands of thousands of galaxies in a very specific path.
- AnimalMuppet 3y ago
  Ah, Dr. Sokolsky. I had him as an undergrad. He taught (IIRC) my quantum mechanics class.
- opportune 3y ago
  I wonder what the math is behind this. It’s kind of like saying “the universe is so big that there’s likely an arrangement of matter in just the right configuration to accelerate particles to this extent”. In the absence of better theories it’s reasonable but like… pragmatically it seems simpler for a simpler but unknown process to be the root cause. That, or an advanced civilization. I kind of buy “high energy particles are type 1 civilizations’ pollution” more than “there exists gravitational pockets arranged in a manner capable of accelerating single protons to contain as much energy as a baseball”.

marcellus23 3y ago

Some choice interesting quotes about the potential origin of such particles: > Instead, theorists generally expect that the most energetic cosmic rays rev up over millions of years in unidentified accelerators the size of galaxies. > Physicists think that the highest energy cosmic rays cannot come from more than 500 million light-years away, as interactions with lingering radiation from the big bang ought to snuff out cosmic rays from more distant sources. But no obvious candidate for a nearby cosmic accelerator lies directly in line with the hotspot, Sokolsky says. He notes, however, that in that region a filament of galaxies kinks toward Earth and speculates that magnetic fields in that string might help rev up particles.

ambicapter 3y ago
Just imagining a single particle hitting the perfect spot and just getting massively accelerated by thousands of thousands of galaxies in a very specific path.
AnimalMuppet 3y ago
Ah, Dr. Sokolsky. I had him as an undergrad. He taught (IIRC) my quantum mechanics class.
opportune 3y ago
I wonder what the math is behind this. It’s kind of like saying “the universe is so big that there’s likely an arrangement of matter in just the right configuration to accelerate particles to this extent”. In the absence of better theories it’s reasonable but like… pragmatically it seems simpler for a simpler but unknown process to be the root cause. That, or an advanced civilization. I kind of buy “high energy particles are type 1 civilizations’ pollution” more than “there exists gravitational pockets arranged in a manner capable of accelerating single protons to contain as much energy as a baseball”.