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The Enigma of Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays: A New Theory Unveiled

Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) represent the universe’s highest-energy particles, boasting energies that surpass human capabilities by over a million times. Despite their discovery six decades ago, a comprehensive explanation for their origin has eluded researchers.

A recent theory proposed by physicist Glennys Farrar from New York University offers a promising perspective on the formation of UHECRs, suggesting a clear and testable framework.

“After six decades of effort, the origin of the mysterious highest-energy particles in the universe may finally have been identified,” Farrar states, holding the position of Collegiate Professor of Physics and Julius Silver, Rosalind S. Silver, and Enid Silver Winslow Professor at NYU. “This insight introduces a new mechanism for understanding the most cataclysmic events in the cosmos, such as the merging of two neutron stars to form a black hole. This merger is also critical for the creation of various precious and exotic elements like gold, platinum, uranium, iodine, and xenon.”

Farrar’s research, published in the journal Physical Review Letters, suggests that these high-energy cosmic rays are generated in the chaotic magnetic outflows of Binary Neutron Star mergers, released from the remnants of such mergers before the final black hole is formed. Concurrently, this phenomenon generates powerful gravitational waves, some of which have already been observed by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration.

This groundbreaking proposal offers a fresh perspective on two of the most puzzling characteristics of UHECRs: the close relationship between their energy levels and electric charge, along with the remarkable energy observed in a select few of the highest energy events.

From Farrar’s analysis, two significant implications arise that could pave the way for experimental validation in future research:

• The top-tier UHECRs are thought to emerge as uncommon “r-process” elements, including xenon and tellurium, prompting researchers to look for these components within UHECR data.
• High-energy neutrinos, produced during UHECR collisions, should correlate with the gravitational waves generated during the parent neutron star merger.

This research received partial support from grants provided by the National Science Foundation (PHY-2013199, PHY-2413153).

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