Research on Cosmic Rays
With this grant, Mulrey will conduct research into the origin of the most energetic cosmic rays in our Galaxy. These rays consist of charged particles that travel through space at nearly the speed of light. To discover where these particles come from, it is important to detect so-called "air showers" – groups of particles that are created when cosmic rays hit our atmosphere.
It has so far been difficult to measure air showers with enough detail to fully understand the nature of cosmic rays in this energy range.. Additionally, complex interactions take place in these showers that we cannot easily recreate and understand on Earth.
New Techniques with the SKA Telescope
Mulrey is active in international research groups that study cosmic rays with telescopes such as LOFAR and the upcoming SKA. With the ERC Grant, she will use the SKA radio telescope to study air showers in greater detail than ever before. The unique density of antennas within the SKA makes it possible to map air showers with extremely high resolution. Special detectors will also be installed to distinguish between different types of particles in the shower, enabling researchers to reconstruct and understand these processes much more accurately.
These new methods are important for improving existing models of cosmic rays and will help to better identify the sources of cosmic rays, especially during the transition from Galactic to extragalactic origins.
Contribution to Science
With her research, Katie Mulrey will provide the most precise measurements of air showers to date. This is an important step towards uncovering the origins of cosmic rays and understanding how these particles travel through the universe. The ERC Consolidator Grant not only highlights Mulrey’s scientific achievements but also provides a solid foundation for years of pioneering research into cosmic rays with the SKA.
