Scientists have discovered that nearby pulsars , neutron stars that spin incredibly quickly , are unlikely to be the source of antimatter attain Earth .
The findings , published in the journalScience , come from scientists using the gamy - ALT Water Cherenkov ( HAWC ) Gamma - Ray Observatory in Mexico . They captured the first encompassing - angle view of da Gamma ray make out from two quickly whirl stars .
The trouble focus around things called positrons . These are the antimatter cousin of electron , and in 2008 we recognize anunusually high numberin orbital cavity around Earth as the solvent of cosmic electron beam .
Two theories were suggested for the blood line , one that they had come from pulsars . The other was that they might be the related to dark subject .
These finical pulsar were conceive to be the source , called Geminga and PSR B0656 + 14 , located 1,000 light - twelvemonth away .
However , studying the stars , the scientist found that the positrons would have lost too much energy had these stars been the seed , so that melodic theme can be apparently ruled out .
" This novel measurement is tantalizing because it powerfully disfavors the idea that these extra positrons are descend to Earth from two nearby pulsars , " said Jordan Goodman , professor of physics at the University of Maryland and the lead police detective , in astatement .
The HAWC detector itself is moderately awful . It ’s at an elevation of 4,100 meter ( 13,500 base ) , sitting on the edge of the Sierra Negra vent . It ’s contain of 300 huge water army tank , which are used to track cascades of particles coming down from the atmosphere .
In this case , incoming gamma ray from the pulsars boom into particles in the atmosphere , producing a shower of particles that could be measured in the tanks by instant of disconsolate light .
Measuring theenergy from these molecule , the researchers could then influence out the act of antielectron also associated with the pulsars . And the reading show there was n’t enough energy to account for those seen at Earth .
basically , they found that matter was n’t drifting forth from the pulsars ’ debris study fast enough to account for the positron attain Earth .
Quite what ’s going on here , though , is n’t cleared just yet . It does sort of point towards the moody matter idea , although this has n’t been verified yet .
" Our measuring does n’t decide the interrogation in favour of dark matter , but any newfangled hypothesis that attempts to excuse the supernumerary using pulsars will postulate to account for what we ’ve find , " said Goodman .
