What's the most high-energy photon or particle discovered? Where are we in that?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter questionpost
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Particle Photon
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The highest energy particles discovered are in the range of 5×1019 eV to 3.69×1025 eV, often referenced in relation to the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) limit. Current research indicates the existence of particles with energies approaching 1020 eV, particularly in the context of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECR). Terrestrial proton accelerators, such as synchrotrons, can achieve energies in the TeV (1012 eV) range but do not reach 1013 eV. Further exploration of UHECR is essential for understanding these extreme energy levels.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) limit
  • Familiarity with ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECR)
  • Knowledge of particle physics and energy scales (eV, TeV)
  • Experience with scientific literature and research methodologies
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) limit in detail
  • Explore the latest findings on ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECR)
  • Study the capabilities and limitations of terrestrial proton accelerators
  • Review scientific papers on cosmic ray detection and analysis methods
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, astrophysicists, and researchers interested in high-energy particle physics and cosmic ray studies.

questionpost
Messages
194
Reaction score
0
I googled it and got some particles with 5×10^19eV- 3.69×10^25eV-, but I know I've heard bigger somewhere else...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
questionpost said:
I googled it and got some particles with 5×10^19eV- 3.69×10^25eV-, but I know I've heard bigger somewhere else...
From where did one find those numbers. The number 5×10^19eV is frequently given in reference to the 'GZK cutoff' or 'GZK limit'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greisen–Zatsepin–Kuzmin_limit

There are some indications of particle energies in the 1020 eV range.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-high-energy_cosmic_ray

One should review the following (and search for reliable information on Ultrahigh energy cosmis rays, or UHECR):
http://www.telescopearray.org/outreach/uhecr.html

http://arxiv.org/abs/1011.1872

http://www.slac.stanford.edu/econf/C040802/papers/L020.PDF

http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~rene/talks/Cronin-Fest-Ong-Writeup.pdf

http://uhecr.uchicago.edu/depot/uhecr-wp.pdf

http://canopus.chungnam.ac.kr/kaw3/00_PDF_kaw3/v37n5p421_jones.pdf


In terrestrial proton accelerators (synchrotrons), we get particles into the TeV (1012 eV) range, but not quite to 1013 eV.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I was thinking more around *10^27 and beyond...
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Very high energy photons in space
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Undergrad Ultra-high energy photon interactions with matter
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Graduate Why don't we see super-symmetric particles?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad How Often Are the Charge and Mass of High-Energy Cosmic Rays Identified?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Graduate Why KE of Annihilation Electrons Differs?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Graduate For the W3 and B bosons, what is their hypercharge and isospin?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Undergrad Why are 'virtual particles' allowed to be 'off-shell'?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
High School How hard have they banged on quarks, electrons, etc.?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
High School Can Gluons Emit Photons?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Graduate Why do the proton and electron have equal and opposite electric charge?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K