Fermi acceleration

Fermi acceleration is a process that speeds up particles, such as cosmic rays, through repeated interactions with moving magnetic fields or shock waves. Imagine a ball bouncing between two converging walls; each bounce can transfer energy to the ball. Similarly, particles gain energy when they encounter dynamic magnetic regions, like shock fronts from exploding stars or solar flares. Over multiple encounters, they can reach very high energies. This mechanism helps explain how particles in space achieve extreme velocities, contributing to the high-energy cosmic radiation we observe.