The Earth is exposed to a permanent rain of cosmic particles from outer space. Most of the particles are fully ionised atomic nuclei, moving with relativistic energies. The bulk of them with energies up to 10^17 eV originate within our Milky Way. They are most likely accelerated in supernova remnants. Some particles have a thousand times higher energies, i.e., around 10^20 eV. This corresponds to the kinetic energy of a tennis ball with a mass of 50 g and a velocity of 90 km/h.

The nature and origin of ultra high-energy cosmic rays

I. De Mitri;
2012-01-01

Abstract

The Earth is exposed to a permanent rain of cosmic particles from outer space. Most of the particles are fully ionised atomic nuclei, moving with relativistic energies. The bulk of them with energies up to 10^17 eV originate within our Milky Way. They are most likely accelerated in supernova remnants. Some particles have a thousand times higher energies, i.e., around 10^20 eV. This corresponds to the kinetic energy of a tennis ball with a mass of 50 g and a velocity of 90 km/h.
2012
Cosmic Rays; Astrophysical sources; Cosmology
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12571/2823
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