Exploring the nonthermal Universe with TeV and PeV gamma-rays
The origin of Cosmic Rays (CR), more than 100 years after their discovery, is still considered a “century-old mystery”. Therefore the identification of the astronomical sources responsible for the locally measured fluxes of CRs remains one of the highest priorities of the field. However, the CR studies cannot be reduced merely to this objective. The term ‘cosmic rays’ has broader implications. After matter, radiation and magnetic fields, these relativistic particles constitute the fourth substance of the observable Universe. The localization, identification and exploration of physical conditions and processes in these CR factories, independent of their relative contributions to the ‘CR fog’, is a fundamental issue in its own right. In this context, the Extreme Accelerators - perfectly designed by Nature machines accelerating particles with a rate close to the theoretical margin are of particular interest. I will discuss the recent progress in this area thanks to the (surprise) discovery of hundreds of gamma-ray sources reported at TeV and PeV energies.
Monday, 20th June 2022, ore 14:30