Apparatus and methods for detecting massive particles, locating their sources and harvesting their energy.

Abstract

The invention detects massive particles, which are invisible to contemporary particle detectors employing electro-magnetic sensors. The apparatus contains a mechanical sensor detecting massive particles via their influence on mechanical motion of sensor constituent atoms causing changes in sensor characteristics. The apparatus may include said sensor made of crystal or condensed-matter attached as a bob at the end of a pendulum that starts swinging when massive particles hit it. The star-source emitting massive particles is located by finding a space direction from which the particles arrive and produce the changes in said sensor position and physical characteristics. Energy is harvested by using changes in sensor energetic characteristics including mechanical motion, electromagnetic potential, thermal or other reactions. The invented sensor has directly detected massive particles from the Sun, central region of our Galaxy, and the star Deneb. The average mass-energy of solar massive particles is 3.1−1+1.2×1015 eV and mass-energy density near Earth ˜0.78 GeV/cm3.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.