Aquila Booster outperforms Crab, exposing gaps in particle acceleration theory

LHAASO and X-ray observations found the pulsar wind nebula around PSR J1849-0001 producing gamma rays up to 2 PeV.

The nebula appears to accelerate particles more efficiently than expected, even outperforming the Crab Nebula despite a weaker pulsar.

The finding challenges standard models of pulsar-driven acceleration and points to missing physics in extreme cosmic environments.