Why do you assume that there is not an EM component in cosmic rays. Surely there are gammas included in with them as well.

When something carrying 50 Joules travels through space, I seriously doubt we can be certain what form of matter or energy it exists in. If the energy is above that of electron-positron pair production, we have to allow this as a mode of transport. The evidence is that high energy events occur. Exactly what the carriers are is less certain since particle production can occur with an uneven distribution of energy. We have to think in terms of the channels for the communication of energy here.

If future scientists looked at what we know today about cosmic rays and elementary particle theory, I wouldn't be surprised if they considered our views as being about as useful as ancient astronomers trying to describe the motion of planets in terms of epicycles.

• Re: Re: Re: High energy particles - bruce - January 24, 2001 - 06:07 UTC
  • Re: Re: Re: Re: High energy particles - jim_b - January 25, 2001 - 05:44 UTC
    • The effect of observer. - alexander - January 25, 2001 - 18:12 UTC