The colored lines show how cosmic rays are deflected by magnetic fields. The white straight lines represent a large-scale magnetic field. In addition, small-scale magnetic fields not shown here act on the particle paths (colored lines). Credit: RUB, Dr. Lukas Merten
By simulating the transport of cosmic rays with a new computer program, international scientists hope to discover the sources of these atom fragments.
Discovered in 1912, the origin of cosmic rays has continued to elude scientists.
Cosmic rays are fragments of atoms that rain down on Earth from outside our solar system. Because many believe their origins are related to supernovae, computer models are believed to be key to finally understanding these fragmented jets.
A team of researchers from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) has published their new research using this software in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.
Trace the trajectory of the particles
The researchers describe how their program called “CRPropa” traces the trajectories of particles from their formation to their arrival on Earth. “We can also fully explain the interaction of particles with the matter and photon fields of the universe,” says Julien Dörner, PhD student at RUB.
This new program has the ability to simulate not only the propagation of cosmic rays, but also the signatures of neutrinos and gamma rays produced by cosmic ray interactions.
“Unlike cosmic rays, these messenger particles can be observed directly from their sources, as they arrive at Earth on a straight path,” explains Dr. Patrick Reichherzer, postdoctoral researcher at the RUB. “We can also use the software to predict these neutrino and gamma-ray signatures from distant galaxies, such as starbursts or active galaxies.”
Take steps to understand the universe
The simulation program presented is currently the most comprehensive software and will continue to improve the scientific understanding of space and the universe.
“We can explore new energy ranges in the simulation that could not be fully captured in such detail with the programs available so far,” said Professor Karl-Heinz Kampert from the University of Wuppertal.
“Most importantly, we can develop a theoretical model that describes the transition of cosmic rays from our own galaxy to a fraction coming from distant galaxies and compare it to observations.”
Cosmic landscape at the center of a cluster of galaxies © X-rays: NASA/CXC/SAO/S.Randall et al., Optical: SDSS
Use theoretical calculations to interpret experimental data
Through the international collaboration of 17 researchers from Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, England and Austria, “CRPropa will make a significant contribution to understanding where cosmic rays come from,” said Professor Julia Tjus, spokeswoman for the CRC, from the RUB.
Carried out as part of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1491 The Interplay of Cosmic Matter, the project was funded by the German Research Foundation.
Professor Tjus illustrated that “the publication is an important step towards a quantitative description of the transport and interaction of cosmic rays in three dimensions. After all, we need theoretical calculations to help us interpret the variety of data we receive from the various instruments that monitor the cosmos.”
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