In the realm of astrophysics and energy research, scientists are continually unraveling the mysteries of cosmic phenomena that could have profound implications for our understanding of energy and particle acceleration. Researchers Michael Kachelriess and Eugen Lammert, affiliated with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, have recently contributed to this field with their study on the high-mass X-ray binary system Cygnus X-3. Their findings, published in a recent addendum to their previous work, shed light on the system’s potential to accelerate cosmic rays to extremely high energies, a discovery that could influence the energy sector’s approach to particle acceleration technologies.
Cygnus X-3 is a system where a black hole or neutron star orbits a massive, hot star. The researchers argue that this system can act as a natural particle accelerator, propelling cosmic rays to energies beyond one PeV (peta-electronvolt), which is a million times more energetic than the particles accelerated by the Large Hadron Collider, the most powerful human-made particle accelerator. This phenomenon is attributed to the system’s powerful jets, which are streams of high-energy particles ejected from the vicinity of the black hole or neutron star.
The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) collaboration recently detected an orbitally modulated photon flux from Cygnus X-3, extending up to 4 PeV. This observation supports the idea that cosmic rays are accelerated in the jet and then interact with the surrounding material, such as the stellar wind and ultraviolet photons from the companion star. These interactions produce secondary particles, including high-energy photons, which are observed by LHAASO.
The researchers explain that the interaction of cosmic rays with the stellar UV photons leads to a photon flux that peaks around PeV energies and varies with the orbital period of the system. This modulation provides a unique signature that can be used to study the acceleration and interaction processes in this extreme environment.
For the energy sector, understanding these natural particle acceleration mechanisms could inspire new approaches to designing more efficient and powerful particle accelerators. These accelerators have numerous applications, from medical imaging and cancer treatment to materials science and energy research. Moreover, studying high-energy cosmic rays and their interactions can provide insights into the fundamental physics governing our universe, potentially leading to breakthroughs in energy production and utilization.
The research by Kachelriess and Lammert was published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, contributing to the ongoing efforts to unravel the mysteries of cosmic particle acceleration and its potential applications in the energy sector. As we continue to explore the universe, we may find that the secrets to advanced energy technologies are hidden among the stars.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.