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Cosmic Bullets: High Energy Particles In Astrophysics (Frontiers of Science (Addison-Wesley))

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Cosmic rays are something that the general public has heard of, but typically has no idea what it is. Well, Clay hopes to dispel some of that ignorance in this brief text. He explains that these are nuclei often travelling at very high speeds; often several percent of the speed of light. Just being nuclei, without any accompanying electrons, means that they are highly charged.

Which gives rise to the experimental methods to detect and study them. Ranging from balloons carrying detectors high in the atmosphere to ground-based detectors. The experimental aspect of this field can be somewhat colourful.

But where do they come from? Why so energetic? He goes into several possible explanations. Possibly from stellar reactions deeper in the galaxy. But it is contentious as to what those reactions are. Some cosmic rays are known to come from our Sun, and give us insight into its structure and composition.

Much is still unknown in this field.