Scientists Discover Particle with Remarkable Energy in Utah Desert
Scientists have detected a particle in the Utah desert with an extraordinary energy level of 244 EeV. The identity and origin of this mysterious particle remain unknown.
Unraveling the Mystery
The baffling particle was first identified in May 2021, with the assistance of the Telescope Array, comprising over 500 detectors situated in the Utah desert. These detectors have been specifically designed to capture high-energy cosmic radiation. In May 2021, the scientists detected an ultra-high energy particle with an energy level of 244 EeV, as now reported in Science journal.
The Mistake That Turned Real
Researcher Toshihiro Fujii shares, “When I first discovered this ultra-high-energy cosmic radiation, I thought there was a mistake, as such a high energy level has not been seen in the last three decades.”
Previous Discoveries and an Exception
Based on past findings, the functionality of the Telescope Array is not in doubt. Over the years, the Array has led to the detection of more than 30 ultra-high-energy particles. However, this particle, described by Fujii and colleagues in the Science journal, is unusual because its energy level outmatches the particles previously detected with that Array.
“Oh-My-God Particle”
Interestingly, this particle evokes memories of the highest energy particle ever detected – dubbed the “Oh-My-God particle”. Detected in 1991 with an estimated energy of 320 EeV, its energy levels hadn’t been matched until this recent discovery. The particle detected by Fujii and his colleagues in May 2021 is genuine, not a mistake as Fujii initially assumed, and comes close to rivaling the energy of the Oh-My-God particle.
Amaterasu – The New Ultra-Energy Particle
The scientists have named this incredibly high-energy particle “Amaterasu”, after the sun goddess from Shinto (Japan’s indigenous religion). The footprint of the Amaterasu particle was picked up by 23 detectors in the Utah desert. The particle seems to come from the direction of the Local Void, a ‘vacant’ area of space adjacent to the Milky Way.
A Continuing Mystery
The exact origins of the particle remain a mystery, just like the Oh-My-God particle. Researcher John Matthews states, “The particles carry so much energy that they should not be affected by galactic and extragalactic magnetic fields.” This essentially means that the course of these particles is not deviated by these magnetic fields and they travel more or less in a straight line through the universe. However, nothing capable of harboring the required energy to produce such an ultra-high-energy particle can be found at the inferred location. The mystery deepens.
Need for Further Research
More research and data are required to decode these enigmas, comments Fujii. An upgrade of the Telescope Array sensitivity could assist in detecting more such energetic particles. As we wait for additional data, scientists can only speculate the origin of the Amaterasu particle.
John Belz, another researcher, puts forth an intriguing theory, “Perhaps magnetic fields are stronger than we thought, but this does not align with other observations that suggest they are not strong enough to deflect the course of less energetic particles. This is a real mystery.”
The Puzzles Remain
At present, we are faced with two mysteries related to ultra-high-energy particles, as the origin of the Oh-My-God particle is still shrouded in secrecy. Belz shares, “These particles seem to come from completely different places in the universe. So it’s not that there is one mysterious source. It could be the result of a distortion in spacetime, colliding cosmic strings. These are some of the unusual ideas being floated around since there is no conventional explanation.”
