Researchers Propose Gluon Condensation to Solve Cosmic Ray Muon Puzzle
Summary
Scientists have proposed that “gluon condensation” may explain the excess muons observed at Earth’s surface, which current physics models cannot fully account for. Cosmic rays colliding with atmospheric nuclei create particle showers, including muons. Researchers suggest that in ultra-high-energy collisions, gluons form a dense state, boosting strange quark and kaon production, which leads to more muons. This theory, based on quantum chromodynamics, could resolve the long-standing muon surplus puzzle.
Cosmic rays have long puzzled scientists by producing more muons at Earth’s surface than predicted by standard physics models. These muons, created in high-energy collisions between cosmic rays and atmospheric nuclei, exceed expected numbers by 30–60% in certain energy ranges. Now, researchers from East China Normal University suggest that “gluon condensation” during the initial collisions may explain this anomaly.
High-energy cosmic rays, primarily protons and helium nuclei, collide with atmospheric particles, creating cascades of pions, kaons, and baryons, which decay into muons. However, conventional physics, based on particle accelerator experiments like those at CERN, fails to account for the observed excess muons.
The proposed solution involves gluon condensation, a phenomenon in which high-energy collisions cause gluons within hadrons to cluster into a dense state. This state enhances the production of strange quarks and kaons, leading to more muons. The researchers’ analysis, grounded in quantum chromodynamics (QCD), found that gluon condensates could increase strange quark production by 2–10 times compared to the standard quark-gluon plasma model.
Their findings suggest that gluon condensation, occurring in ultra-high-energy collisions, could be the key to resolving the muon surplus, offering new insights into particle physics and cosmic ray interactions.
Stay Updated!
Join our WhatsApp Channel for the latest updates, exclusive content, and more! Click the link below to join now:
👉 Join Our WhatsApp Channel