Producing cosmic gamma rays in starburst regions

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The starburst area in Cygnus OB2 is dominated by young bright hot stars and has been identified as a source of cosmic gamma rays. This is an infrared image of the area taken by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite. (Courtesy of J. Knoedlseder)
The starburst area in Cygnus OB2 is dominated by young, bright, hot stars and has been identified as a source of cosmic gamma rays. This is an infrared image of the area taken by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite. (Courtesy of J. Knoedlseder)

In 2002, when astronomers first detected cosmic gamma rays – the most energetic form of light known – coming from the constellation Cygnus they were surprised and perplexed. The region lacked the extreme electromagnetic fields that they thought were required to produce such energetic rays. But now a team of theoretical physicists propose a mechanism that can explain this mystery and may also help account for another type of cosmic ray, the high-energy nuclei that rain down on Earth in the billions.


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