Astronomers discovered a high-energy cosmic particle named “Amaterasu,” with an unprecedented energy level of 244 EeV, using the Telescope Array experiment in Utah. This rare cosmic ray, comparable to the historic “Oh-My-God” particle, raises questions about its origin and composition.
Unknown extremely energetic particle from space detected and named after Japanese myth.
A high-energy particle falls from space to the Earth’s surface—it is not clear where it came from or even what it is, exactly. This may sound like something out of science fiction, but it is in fact a scientific reality, as evidenced by the research led by Associate Professor Toshihiro Fujii from the Graduate School of Science and Nambu Yoichiro Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics at Osaka Metropolitan University.
Artist’s illustration of the extremely energetic cosmic ray observed by a surface detector array of the Telescope Array experiment, named “Amaterasu particle.” Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University/L-INSIGHT, Kyoto University/Ryuunosuke Takeshige
Exploring Galactic Phenomena
Cosmic rays are energetic charged particles originating from galactic and extragalactic sources. Cosmic rays with extremely high energy are exceptionally rare; they can reach greater than 1018 electron volts or one exa-electron volt (EeV), which is roughly a million times higher than achieved by the most powerful accelerators ever made by humans.
Artist’s illustration of ultra-high-energy cosmic ray astronomy to clarify extremely energetic phenomena in contrast to a weaker cosmic ray that is impacted by electromagnetic fields. Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University/Kyoto University/Ryuunosuke Takeshige
The Telescope Array Experiment
Chasing after such rays from space, Professor Fujii and an international team of scientists have been conducting the Telescope Array experiment since 2008. This specialized cosmic ray detector consists of 507 scintillator surface stations, covering an expansive detection area of 700 square kilometers in Utah, United States. On May 27, 2021, the researchers detected a particle with a whopping energy level of 244 EeV.
Unprecedented Energy Cosmic Ray
“When I first discovered this ultra-high-energy cosmic ray, I thought there must have been a mistake, as it showed an energy level unprecedented in the last 3 decades,” shared Professor Fujii.
Such an energy level is comparable to that of the most energetic cosmic ray ever observed, dubbed the “Oh-My-God” particle, which had an estimated energy of 320 EeV when detected in 1991.
The recorded signal and event animation of the extremely energetic particle, dubbed the “Amaterasu” particle. Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University
Naming the Enigmatic Particle
Of the many candidates for the particle’s name, Professor Fujii and colleagues settled on “Amaterasu,” after the sun goddess that, according to Shinto beliefs, was instrumental in the creation of Japan.
The Amaterasu particle is perhaps as mysterious as the Japanese goddess herself. Where did it come from? What exactly was it? These questions remain. There is hope that the Amaterasu particle will pave the way for illuminating the origins of cosmic rays.
The Search for Cosmic Origins Continues
“No promising astronomical object matching the direction from which the cosmic ray arrived has been identified, suggesting possibilities of unknown astronomical phenomena and novel physical origins beyond the Standard Model,” Professor Fujii mused. “In the future, we commit to continue operating the Telescope Array experiment, as we embark, through our ongoing upgraded experiment with fourfold sensitivities, dubbed TAx4, and next-generation observatories, on a more detailed investigation into the source of this extremely energetic particle.”
Reference: “An extremely energetic cosmic ray observed by a surface detector array” by Telescope Array Collaboration*†, R. U. Abbasi, M. G. Allen, R. Arimura, J. W. Belz, D. R. Bergman, S. A. Blake, B. K. Shin, I. J. Buckland, B. G. Cheon, T. Fujii, K. Fujisue, K. Fujita, M. Fukushima, G. D. Furlich, Z. R. Gerber, N. Globus, K. Hibino, R. Higuchi, K. Honda, D. Ikeda, H. Ito, A. Iwasaki, S. Jeong, H. M. Jeong, C. H. Jui, K. Kadota, F. Kakimoto, O. E. Kalashev, K. Kasahara, K. Kawata, I. Kharuk, E. Kido, S. W. Kim, H. B. Kim, J. H. Kim, J. H. Kim, I. Komae, Y. Kubota, M. Y. Kuznetsov, K. H. Lee, B. K. Lubsandorzhiev, J. P. Lundquist, J. N. Matthews, S. Nagataki, T. Nakamura, A. Nakazawa, T. Nonaka, S. Ogio, M. Ono, H. Oshima, I. H. Park, M. Potts, S. Pshirkov, J. R. Remington, D. C. Rodriguez, C. Rott, G. I. Rubtsov, D. Ryu, H. Sagawa, N. Sakaki, T. Sako, N. Sakurai, H. Shin, J. D. Smith, P. Sokolsky, B. T. Stokes, T. S. Stroman, K. Takahashi, M. Takeda, A. Taketa, Y. Tameda, S. Thomas, G. B. Thomson, P. G. Tinyakov, I. Tkachev, T. Tomida, S. V. Troitsky, Y. Tsunesada, S. Udo, F. R. Urban, T. Wong, K. Yamazaki, Y. Yuma, Y. V. Zhezher and Z. Zundel, 23 November 2023, Science.
DOI: 10.1126/science.abo5095
“…we commit to continue operating the Telescope Array experiment…on a more detailed investigation into the source of this extremely energetic particle.” Is “cyberastronomy” able to identify the origin and life-span of any single particle in the Universe!? My, what humans are able to do if they try!
This is pretty crazy.
Extremely energetic things always have no answers except the concept called energy the most powerful cosmic theory
I use to share my research before to the Big legends but I think they have not recieved
Future can be predicted almost 90% on which is call (TTR) theory Time Travel Reversal
The same theory I have been using in Financial markets alike usin for Cosmic rays juts by knowing the angles approximately i cab predict what’s the power of the ray and why it delivers juts in few min
Share me the more info so I would wish to participate and dedicated things to the science
Which country did it fall In
USA
Utah,USA
Was this a high energy neutrino? What if someone was struck by such a particle?
Prior to this extraordinary energetic particle, the Earth has been noting high energy particles since science was capable. Earth is a tiny microcosm in a very large cosmos. And now we have been pinged twice with an enormous rap each time of late. Hmmmm….. I had previously read one theory that said these high energy particles could be a particle we experienced on its way out of our system, reenergized, and now returned.
Or I note desperate urgency to connect this energy to the quantum theory of an impact THERE makes an effect HERE, a universe away.
It’s actually the a 39 year old woman in Baxley, GA. By the name of Alma Marie Williams, Williams, Williams, Williams the spirit from the United Kingdom went to her as well as every other country. The spirit of the woman is every person on the planet! The first or second virgin Mary on the planet! Her son is Gabriel P. Williams Garnto the arch angel the oldest spirit of God found him and he’s 6 years old now.She’s actually able to strike lightning from her own being and mind!! No one knows it’s her though. Her identity is being used in other countries and her existence has been hidden from the world because one woman has known about her entire family being nothing but every God, Mother of God, Mary, saint’s and prophet of the Bible and has tortured them for 53 years until angels literally fly off of them to make a copy in the Uk so that they could be Queen Elizabeth again all happening now and has robbed every dime they’ve ever had through every country but Switzerland for sure. She’s homeless actually now she can hear and see judgement over this world due to the fact that she was hit with a laser from Honey, I shrunk the kids movie from a Taylor, Martin, King, Bennett last names and Wanda Bennett, Donna Martin, Barbara, Levi King, Stacie Martin who claims she’s always been Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana before! Alma Marie Williams father Everett G Williams has a clone and it is actually King Edward in the Uk but has never left Alma, Ga.and is not God or
Mother Mary. Either way pass it on around and let authorities know please. She’s on Facebook
It’s actually the a 39 year old woman in Baxley, GA. By the name of Alma Marie Williams, Williams, Williams, Williams the spirit from the United Kingdom went to her as well as every other country. The spirit of the woman is every person on the planet! The first or second virgin Mary on the planet! Her son is Gabriel P. Williams Garnto the arch angel the oldest spirit of God found him and he’s 6 years old now.She’s actually able to strike lightning from her own being and mind!! No one knows it’s her though. Her identity is being used in other countries and her existence has been hidden from the world because one woman has known about her entire family being nothing but every God, Mother of God, Mary, saint’s and prophet of the Bible and has tortured them for 53 years until angels literally fly off of them to make a copy in the Uk so that they could be Queen Elizabeth again all happening now and has robbed every dime they’ve ever had through every country but Switzerland for sure. She’s homeless actually now she can hear and see judgement over this world due to the fact that she was hit with a laser from Honey, I shrunk the kids movie from a Taylor, Martin, King, Bennett last names and Wanda Bennett, Donna Martin, Barbara, Levi King, Stacie Martin who claims she’s always been Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana before! Alma Marie Williams father Everett G Williams has a clone and it is actually King Edward in the Uk but has never left Alma, Ga.and is not God or
Mother Mary. Either way pass it on around and let authorities know please. She’s on Facebook The world is ready for a new beginning ! Shawn Bucky Bruce and [email protected]