Beijing, May 12 The Chinese observatory LHAASO, which studies high-energy cosmic rays, subatomic particles that move at a speed close to the speed of light, recently began to officially operate, reports the local newspaper Global Times today.
The observatory, sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the government of central Sichuan province, was given the green light for construction in 2015.
With an area of 1.36 square kilometers, it is located in a mountainous area of Sichuan at 4,410 meters above sea level and serves to analyze the physics of cosmic rays, as well as to study the origins of the acceleration and propagation of the radiation with high levels of precision.
According to the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Academy of Sciences, quoted by the newspaper, the facilities “place China at the forefront of astrophysics research on particles related to the origin of high-energy cosmic rays, one of the topics most advanced and important in current science”.
The complex consists of three parts: a set of muon and electromagnetic particle detectors, another set of water detectors, and a third set of 18 wide-field-of-view Cherenkov telescopes.
Together, they will be able to “measure gamma rays and cosmic rays generated by high-energy celestial objects in an omnidirectional manner with multiple variables,” the Institute said.
During its early phases of operation, LHAASO has already made some progress: last October, a group of Chinese astronomers used it to detect the strongest gamma-ray bursts ever recorded.
High-energy cosmic rays were discovered in the early 20th century, and although how they form is still unknown, scientists think that by studying them they could begin to understand the natural mechanisms for accelerating particles to speeds beyond human reach. EFE
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