Scientists at SwRI developed this conceptual image of heavy ion dynamics based on MMS observations. The colored trajectory lines illustrate how alpha particles (He++) behave as they encounter an extreme shock. Strong magnetic fields effectively change their trajectory, placing them in the acceleration zones. This process explains how trace heavy elements could be accelerated into galactic cosmic rays by supernova events.
Mechanism for accelerating heavy ions revealed. Scientists have used data from the Southwest Research Institute-led Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission to explain the presence of energetic heavy elements in galactic cosmic rays (GCRs)...
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