Forget Speed Limit – Cosmic Particle Accelerator Sets New Standards

Scientists have spotted a huge hadron collider for the first time ever using specialized equipment. Investigations performed with the H.E.S.S. gamma-ray observatory in Namibia reveal for the first time the trajectory of an acceleration mechanism in a star activity known as a nova, which involves massive explosions on the outer layer of a white dwarf.

A nova generates a shock wave that blasts through the neighboring material, propelling particles to extraordinary energy. Unexpectedly, the nova “RS Ophiuchi” seems to accelerate particles to velocities above the predicted limit for perfect circumstances. The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Science.

White dwarfs are ancient, dying stars that have imploded in on themselves & become incredibly compact structures. Novae occurrences happen, for instance, whenever a white dwarf is also in a binary star system with a big sun and, owing to its pull, the white dwarf collects gas from its more heavy partner.

The study team discovered that the particles were propelled to hundreds of times the energy previously reported in novae. Furthermore, the energy generated by the blast was converted extraordinarily effectively into accelerated protons as well as heavy nuclei, resulting in particle acceleration reaching the predicted max speed.

The discovery that the hypothetical maximum for particle acceleration may be exceeded in true cosmic shock waves has profound consequences for astronomy. This implies that the acceleration mechanism may be as effective in their considerably more extreme cousins, supernovae.

The observatories were oriented toward the nova in a few hours after amateur astronomers initially alerted the astrophysics community regarding the nova. The observation’s accomplishment was attributed in large part to the researchers’ and larger astronomical community’s quick response, which paved the path for extensive follow-up observations.

This is another milestone in gamma-ray astrophysics and a hopeful indicator that we will be equipped to investigate many more cosmic outbursts in the future using H.E.S.S. and other gamma-ray instruments.