Cosmic Rays

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COSMIC RAYS


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Cosmic Rays are super fast subatomic particles "raining" down on us from space. 

These high-energy particles arriving from outer space are mainly (89%) protons – nuclei of hydrogen, the lightest and most common element in the universe – but they also include nuclei of helium (10%) and heavier nuclei (1%), all the way up to uranium. (Source of information: CERN)

Their origin remains to be a mystery. 

These are radiations or rather little bits of atoms whizzing by us, even through us, all the time!

We cannot feel them, because they don't affect the human body. However, they do show their presence in different ways. For instance, they cause computers to malfunction.

Scientists have been studying cosmic rays since the early 1900s. At the beginning of the 20th century, around 1911, a physicist, Victor Hess went up in a hot air balloon and discovered that these radiations increased the higher he went. From here, it was concluded that these rays must be coming from somewhere in space.

There is a way you can make these little bits of atoms visible, with the help of the "cloud chamber".

CLOUD CHAMBER EXPERIMENT:



The alcohol vapours condense and form a cloud. When the cosmic rays come in contact with these clouds, the cloud becomes a droplet.




These radiations are travelling nearly at the speed of light. When they hit the top of our atmosphere, the impact is so powerful that the atoms of radiation burst open. 

Scientists have been trying to trace the source of these rays. 
  • Some rays are believed to have come from the sun's atmosphere in the form of solar winds.
  • Some are believed to have come from exploding stars.
  • However, the most powerful rays are believed to have not come from our own galaxy, but from some unknown source out there in the universe.

Energy from the most powerful ray can turn on a bulb for a second or more! 

The energy in these rays can be compared to the energy released in the ball when a pro tennis player hits the ball with all their strength - imagine this energy to be packed in a particle smaller than an atom! 

Scientists have massive cosmic ray observatories to determine the source of these rays.
  • One in the south pole uses an entire block of ice (1km^3) to track the rays.
  • Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina.
Instead of just observing these rays, scientists use advanced technology to trace their origin. They reconstruct the original cosmic rays that hit the top of the atmosphere.

The reason that tracing their source isn't easy is that they don't always travel in a straight line. Their path bends at several instances - such as when they encounter a magnetic field. 

There have been a few suggestions put forward by the scientists for where these rays originate:
  • Galaxies far away.
  • Not produced by exploding stars, but by bouncing around the shockwaves produced by these explosions.
  • Some of the rays are produced by unknown forces or objects.
  • Some could be a result of interaction with dark matter.
  • May have come from objects left over from the big bang. 
Scientists need more data and observations. If they can figure out from where the most powerful cosmic rays originate, they will probably discover the most powerful thing in the universe.

Until their origin is discovered, cosmic rays can be thought of:
"Messengers from the broader universe".

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Feel free to ask/share anything additional in the comments section!

I am still learning Particle physics, but will try my best to answer your questions :)

Kindly let me know about any errors here.

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With Warm Wishes,
Lavanya

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