Astronomers discover object at the center of the Milky Way galaxy that is blocking cosmic rays – and they say they aren’t sure what it is just yet
- Astronomers have discovered a presence at the center of the Milky Way galaxy that is blocking cosmic rays
- The density of cosmic rays in the central molecular zone is far lower than the surrounding ‘sea’
- It’s possible that solar masses in the CMZ are molecular clouds and blocking the cosmic rays
- Scientists looked at data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope to come up with their findings
Astronomers have discovered an odd presence at the center of the Milky Way galaxy that is blocking cosmic rays that they don’t quite understand.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that the density of cosmic rays in the central molecular zone (CMZ) is significantly lower than the surrounding ‘sea’ of cosmic rays.
It’s possible that the solar masses in the CMZ (about 60 million of them) are indeed molecular clouds and they are blocking the cosmic rays.
‘We conclude that the CMZ should indeed play a role to block [cosmic rays] from entering into the very center region,’ researchers wrote in the study.
Astronomers have discovered a presence at the center of the Milky Way galaxy that is blocking cosmic rays. Last year, NASA took an infrared image of the center of the galaxy (pictured), spanning a distance of over 600 light-years
‘Several mechanisms can impede [cosmic rays] penetration into molecular clouds, such as the effect of magnetic field compression and the self-excited magnetohydrodynamics turbulence.’
‘Taking an analogy of the solar modulation effect where low-energy [cosmic rays] are blocked outside of the solar system by the magnetic field associated with solar winds, we briefly discuss the suppression of [cosmic rays] penetration in the CMZ.’
The CMZ is home to complex giant molecular clouds, a type of interstellar cloud that allow the formation of molecules, usually hydrogen.
Last year, NASA took an infrared image of the center of the galaxy, spanning a distance of over 600 light-years using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy telescope.
The density of cosmic rays in the central molecular zone (CMZ) is significantly lower than the surrounding ‘sea’ of cosmic rays
It’s possible that solar masses in the CMZ are molecular clouds and blocking the cosmic rays
By observing cosmic rays in greater detail, astronomers can learn more about physics and how the Milky Way exists with cosmic rays bouncing all over deep space.
The researchers looked at data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope to come up with their findings.
Cosmic rays are still not fully understood, but they are believed to be particles that are similar to protons and can accelerate thanks to certain celestial objects, like black holes or supernova.
Researchers know there is a supermassive black hole at the middle of the Milky Way – Sagittarius A* – even if they have never been able to see it. It’s possible that Sagittarius A* is playing some role in this blocking, even if black holes are natural macerators, the researchers admit.
‘Likely, Sagittarius A* was more active in the past and had accelerated [cosmic rays] up to PeV energies which diffuse outwards and collide with molecular gas to produce energetic y-rays.
‘Finally, a component of y-rays from interactions between the CR sea and the materials in the GC region is expected to present, which is, however, not properly addressed in some analyses.’
The study was recently published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.