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Imagine the Universe (9th Edition)
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Imagine the Universe 9 - Disc 1.iso
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gamma_detection.txt
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2002-06-08
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AUDIO:
Peering into the quantum world, physicists use particle detectors and
accelerators to probe matter on a nuclear scale. GLAST will use these
high energy detector technologies to view the cosmos, recording gamma
rays from immense particle accelerators that operate on scales far beyond
anything achieved on planet Earth. But most cosmic gamma rays are blocked
by the Earth's atmosphere, unable to reach detectors on the ground.
So the GLAST mission must be carried out from space. When these gamma-ray
photons interact with matter, they create pairs of oppositely charged
particles. Light turns into matter and anti-matter, such as an electron
and positron. The creation of particle pairs from purely energetic
gamma rays is described by Einstein's famous equation, E=mc^2.
VIDEO DESCRIPTION:
Video of Stanford's Linear Accelerator, nuclear physicist working in a lab,
artist concept of GLAST in orbit, artist concept of gamma rays being blocked
by Earth's atmosphere, artist concept of photons interacting with matter.