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识别最高能量宇宙射线的来源，这是宇宙中已知的能量最高的粒子。它们的起源是天体物理学中存在时间最长的谜团之一，但现在答案已经触手可及。该项目的预期结果包括对每一条测量到的宇宙射线的质量估计，以及考虑到宇宙射线电荷的宇宙射线到达方向的天空图，从而最大限度地减少宇宙磁场路径偏转的影响。这些地图将揭示能够将粒子加速到极端能量的天体物理对象类型的新信息，这是解决这一难题的重要一步。

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.