Cosmic breakthrough: Amaterasu particle discovered in Utah
Japanese scientists have made a notable breakthrough in the realm of cosmic radiation. They've pinpointed an extraordinarily energetic particle that was previously unknown. This particle has been named 'Amaterasu', drawing inspiration from the mythological sun goddess who, according to lore, facilitated the creation of Japan.
11:53 AM EST, November 27, 2023
This extraordinary particle's arrival on Earth was reported by the research team from Osaka Metropolitan University. The particle's origin is unclear and its nature is still a mystery. The only known fact about this particle is that it is part of cosmic radiation. This means it is a particle that reaches us from various sources, spanning both our galaxy and beyond.
Cosmic radiation is characterized by immense energy, exceeding 10 to the 18th power electron volts (measured in EeV, or exaelectronvolts). This energy level is million-fold what can be achieved in our most potent particle accelerators.
The Osaka-based scientists have been engrossed in studying these kinds of particles for several years. For this purpose, they've deployed over 500 research stations scattered across an area just over 270 square miles in the state of Utah. During their research, the team found a particle with an enormous energy level of 233 EeV.
Ultra-energetic particle Amaterasu
Toshihiro Fujii, the lead author of the publication on this specific study, stated that he initially mistook it to be an anomaly. "Upon first noticing this ultra-energetic particle, my first assumption was an error. Its energy level was something unobserved for 3 decades," he declared.
The energy of this newly discovered particle is comparable to the energy of a cosmic radiation particle discovered in 1999, which was dubbed the "Oh-My-God" particle. Back then, detectors recorded an even higher energy level of 320 EeV.
After their discovery, the scientists wisely chose to call the new particle Amaterasu, in honor of the sun goddess who, according to mythology, played a pivotal role in the creation of Japan. As they argue, the particle is as mysterious as the mythological character from whom its name is derived. Its source and nature remain undisclosed, opening up possibilities for new breakthroughs.
"We haven't been able to identify any astronomical object that could match the direction from which the radiation has originated. This suggests the likelihood of hitherto unknown astronomical phenomena and processes that go beyond the Standard Model," elaborates Prof. Fujii.
The research team is set to continue their study utilizing existing observatories. Concurrently, they are embarking on a new, improved experiment with four times more sensitivity, called TAx4.
"Employing next-generation devices, we intend to also explore the source of this unusually energetic particle," assures the researcher.
