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Micro-Quasars Confirmed as Source of Cosmic Rays

11/23/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Micro-quasars are identified as the likely source of the knee in cosmic ray energy spectra, a puzzle researchers have studied for nearly 70 years.
Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) has detected ultra-high-energy gamma rays from five micro-quasars, confirming they accelerate particles to PeV energies.
The findings reveal a distinct high-energy component in the proton spectrum, suggesting micro-quasars produce cosmic rays at energies beyond those generated by supernova remnants.

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Story summary

Micro-quasars are identified as the likely source of the knee in cosmic ray energy spectra, a puzzle researchers have studied for nearly 70 years.
Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) has detected ultra-high-energy gamma rays from five micro-quasars, confirming they accelerate particles to PeV energies.
The findings reveal a distinct high-energy component in the proton spectrum, suggesting micro-quasars produce cosmic rays at energies beyond those generated by supernova remnants.