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Beyond the myth of the supernova-remnant origin of cosmic rays

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  • Yousaf Butt

    (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA)

Abstract

Cosmic ray origins disputed Since their discovery in 1912, cosmic rays have puzzled theorists trying to explain their origin. Cosmic rays are in fact streams of subatomic particles and ions accelerated to close to the speed of light by distant and extremely energetic events. Extragalactic cosmic rays may well be generated by distant active galaxies hosting supermassive black holes. In a Progress review (available in our International Year of Astronomy reviews package on http://tinyurl.com/prhcqy ), Yousaf Butt takes aim at the current orthodoxy concerning 'Galactic' cosmic rays. It is widely accepted that these streams of particles, less energetic than the extragalactic sort, are accelerated in the shock waves associated with powerful supernova in our Galaxy. Butt thinks that the case for a supernova-remnant origin has not been made, and that even the notion that individual cosmic-ray acceleration sites exist could be flawed. The entire Galaxy, and structures called 'super-bubbles', could be involved.

Suggested Citation

  • Yousaf Butt, 2009. "Beyond the myth of the supernova-remnant origin of cosmic rays," Nature, Nature, vol. 460(7256), pages 701-704, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:460:y:2009:i:7256:d:10.1038_nature08127
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08127
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