Contact: Lori Stiles
lstiles@u.arizona.edu
520-626-4402
University of Arizona

Milky Way 'Accelerator' Generates Gamma Rays

Caption: This graphic illustrates the idea that the black hole at the center of the Milky Way is like an extremely powerful particle accelerator, revving up protons in the surrounding magnetic plasma and slinging them into lower-energy protons with such energy that high-energy gamma rays result from the collision. The yellow line depicts the chaotic flight of a high-energy proton flung into a lower-energy proton in the hydrogen gas cloud. The green arrow represents the high-energy gamma ray that results from the proton collision.

Credit: Sarah Ballantyne

Usage Restrictions: Credit art courtesy of Sarah Ballantyne

Related news release: Milky Way black hole may be a colossal 'particle accelerator'