Massive stars produced at the collapse of giant molecular clouds, form compact groups and remain tightly linked during their entire life. Acceleration of particles in these objects can be initiated by interacting winds directly in the vicinity of stars or in the so-called superbubbles driven by stellar winds and SN explosions (see Figure).
The conditions in these objects can be more favorable for particle acceleration to PeV energies than in individual SNRs. This makes the clusters of massive young stars an attractive alternative to SNRs as CR factories contributing to the highest energy CRs around the “knee”.
DIAS researchers have led a team to report on a compelling similarity of the energy and radial distributions of multi-TeV protons extracted from observations of gamma-ray from these extended structures surrounding three young star clusters (for detail see https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-019-0724-0). The derived 1/r decrement of the CR density with the distance from a star cluster is a distinct signature of continuous, over a few million years, cosmic ray injection into the interstellar medium. The hard (E-2.3 type) energy spectra and the required high acceleration efficiency derived from gamma-ray data, point to clusters of young massive stars as promising candidates for cosmic PeVatrons (accelerators boosting the energy of protons up to energy 1 PeV=1015 eV) and dominant contributors to the flux of highest energy cosmic rays in the Milky Way.
The Theroretical Physics theme for the 80th anniversary is
"Quantum, Inifinity and Beyond"
The events will tie in the main research topics of the School and draw on its rich history.
More on DIAS 2020 can be found here:
dias.ie/dias2020/
DIAS School of Theoretical Physics is one of the two founding Schools. It's first Director was the renowned Physicist Erwin Schrödinger, and the School can boast a number of other big names in Irish and International physics and mathematics.
#DIASdiscovers
On 5th February 1943, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, Prof Erwin Schrödinger, then Director of Theoretical Physics at DIAS, delivered the first of his renowned ‘What is Life?’ lectures. He delivered further lectures in his ‘What is Life?’ series over the following month.
Big Thank you to @hfalcke, for our School of Cosmic Physics Statutory Public Lecture on "The first image of a Black Hole" yesterday evening. Here he is pictured with @TomRayDIAS in @ucddublin#DIASdiscovers
DIAS-led team finds evidence that Young Star Clusters make Cosmic Rays
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Last Updated: 21st January 2020 by Niamh Breathnach
Massive stars produced at the collapse of giant molecular clouds, form compact groups and remain tightly linked during their entire life. Acceleration of particles in these objects can be initiated by interacting winds directly in the vicinity of stars or in the so-called superbubbles driven by stellar winds and SN explosions (see Figure).
The conditions in these objects can be more favorable for particle acceleration to PeV energies than in individual SNRs. This makes the clusters of massive young stars an attractive alternative to SNRs as CR factories contributing to the highest energy CRs around the “knee”.
DIAS researchers have led a team to report on a compelling similarity of the energy and radial distributions of multi-TeV protons extracted from observations of gamma-ray from these extended structures surrounding three young star clusters (for detail see https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-019-0724-0). The derived 1/r decrement of the CR density with the distance from a star cluster is a distinct signature of continuous, over a few million years, cosmic ray injection into the interstellar medium. The hard (E-2.3 type) energy spectra and the required high acceleration efficiency derived from gamma-ray data, point to clusters of young massive stars as promising candidates for cosmic PeVatrons (accelerators boosting the energy of protons up to energy 1 PeV=1015 eV) and dominant contributors to the flux of highest energy cosmic rays in the Milky Way.
Category: Astronomy and Astrophysics Section News & Events, News
The Theroretical Physics theme for the 80th anniversary is "Quantum, Inifinity and Beyond" The events will tie in the main research topics of the School and draw on its rich history. More on DIAS 2020 can be found here: dias.ie/dias2020/
DIAS School of Theoretical Physics is one of the two founding Schools. It's first Director was the renowned Physicist Erwin Schrödinger, and the School can boast a number of other big names in Irish and International physics and mathematics. #DIASdiscovers
DIAS & @esa Solar Orbiter. Professor Peter Gallagher and Dr Shane Maloney worked on the recently launched space mission. dias.ie/2020/02/11/dia… #DIASdiscovers #WeAreAllSolarOrbiters #SolarOrbiter
On 5th February 1943, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, Prof Erwin Schrödinger, then Director of Theoretical Physics at DIAS, delivered the first of his renowned ‘What is Life?’ lectures. He delivered further lectures in his ‘What is Life?’ series over the following month.
@petertgallagher will be on @PatKennyNT at 11.20 talking about the @esa #SolarOrbiter launch that took place at 4.03 yesterday morning from Cape Canaveral. ☀️🛰️ Listen now: newstalk.com #DIASdiscovers
Big Thank you to @hfalcke, for our School of Cosmic Physics Statutory Public Lecture on "The first image of a Black Hole" yesterday evening. Here he is pictured with @TomRayDIAS in @ucddublin #DIASdiscovers
ICYMI: DIAS SCIENTISTS DISCOVER DISAPPEARANCE OF LARGE PARTS OF TECTONIC PLATE BENEATH AFRICA researchandinnovation.ie/dias-scientist… #DIASdiscovers
Tickets still available for our Statutory Public Lecture this evening by @hfalcke: “The First Image of a Black Hole” More here➡️eventbrite.ie/e/dias-scp-sta… Tickets are free! #DIASdiscovers #blackhole