Understanding the nature and origin of the highest energy cosmic rays

该项目旨在利用升级后的皮埃尔·奥格天文台的能力来确定最高能量宇宙射线的来源，宇宙射线是宇宙中已知的最高能量粒子。它们的起源是天体物理学中存在时间最长的谜团之一，但答案现已触手可及。该项目的预期结果包括对每条测量到的宇宙线的质量估计，以及考虑到宇宙线电荷的宇宙线到达方向的天空图，将宇宙磁场造成的路径偏转的影响降至最低。这些地图将揭示能够将粒子加速到极端能量的天体对象类型的新信息，这是朝着解决这一难题迈出的重要一步。

This project aims to harness the capabilities of the upgraded Pierre Auger Observatory to identify sources of the highest energy cosmic rays, the most energetic particles known in the Universe. Their origin is one of the longest standing mysteries in astrophysics, but answers are now within reach. Expected outcomes of the project include mass estimates for every measured cosmic ray, and sky maps of cosmic ray arrival directions that take into account the cosmic ray charge, minimising the effects of path deflections by cosmic magnetic fields. These maps will reveal new information on the types of astrophysical objects capable of accelerating particles to extreme energies, a major step towards solving this difficult problem.