Post by Andrei Tchentchik on Apr 30, 2020 11:35:36 GMT 2
(.#446).- Where do these mysterious repetitive signals spotted in space come from?
Where do these mysterious repetitive signals spotted in space come from?
By: Brice Louvet, science editor
January 14, 2020, 11 h 57 min
Researchers have traced the origin of repetitive deep space radio signals recorded last year. Details of the study are published in Nature.
Rapid radio bursts (FRB) are disconcerting. These emissions last only a few milliseconds and can illuminate space with as much energy as 500 million stars. The first of these "flashes" was discovered in 2007. Since then, we have detected nearly a hundred. The majority are unique, but some are repeated.
We also don't know what produces them. They are probably emanating from very powerful and massive objects or cataclysmic events, but for now astronomers are still in the dark. To find out more, we must try to trace the source of these signals.
The first repetitive FRB spotted, known as FRB 121102, was discovered in 2017. A few months ago, researchers managed to trace its origin in a dwarf galaxy about 3 billion light-years away.
The researchers also determined that these signals were emitted from an extreme environment in the galactic center, but nothing is certain. If we could discover others, then we could determine what actually produced these events.
A second very different salvo
Luck turned around last year with another repetitive FRB recorded, called FRB 180916. And once again, follow-up observations have made it possible to trace its source: a gigantic galaxy found 500 million light years away.
These signals also appeared to originate from a small region of seven light years in diameter located in one of the arms of the galaxy, far outside the galactic center.
In other words, we have here two very different origins of repetitive signals. The first come from a small galaxy far away, emanating from a very dense region. And the others come from a large nearby galaxy, similar to the Milky Way, emanating from a region where new stars are forming.
The repetitive signals recorded last year come from a spiral galaxy located 500 million light years away. Credits: NSF / Gemini Observatory / AURA
"I'm really scratching my head"
With these two different origins, we do not yet know what produces these radio bursts.
"I'm really scratching my head," said Jason Hessels of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy. For FRB 121102, a young magnetar - a neutron star with an extremely strong magnetic field - appeared to be a very plausible model. For FRB 180916, it could be the interaction between two close objects, such as the jet of a black hole hitting the strong magnetic field of a neutron star. "
The researcher only makes assumptions here. The analyzes are still in progress. The advantage with this large galaxy is that it is within range of the largest optical, X-ray and gamma-ray telescopes on the planet. There is also talk that Hubble will soon be targeting it.
By detecting these emissions over several wavelengths, researchers will therefore be able to solve this mystery.
F I N .
Where do these mysterious repetitive signals spotted in space come from?
By: Brice Louvet, science editor
January 14, 2020, 11 h 57 min
Researchers have traced the origin of repetitive deep space radio signals recorded last year. Details of the study are published in Nature.
Rapid radio bursts (FRB) are disconcerting. These emissions last only a few milliseconds and can illuminate space with as much energy as 500 million stars. The first of these "flashes" was discovered in 2007. Since then, we have detected nearly a hundred. The majority are unique, but some are repeated.
We also don't know what produces them. They are probably emanating from very powerful and massive objects or cataclysmic events, but for now astronomers are still in the dark. To find out more, we must try to trace the source of these signals.
The first repetitive FRB spotted, known as FRB 121102, was discovered in 2017. A few months ago, researchers managed to trace its origin in a dwarf galaxy about 3 billion light-years away.
The researchers also determined that these signals were emitted from an extreme environment in the galactic center, but nothing is certain. If we could discover others, then we could determine what actually produced these events.
A second very different salvo
Luck turned around last year with another repetitive FRB recorded, called FRB 180916. And once again, follow-up observations have made it possible to trace its source: a gigantic galaxy found 500 million light years away.
These signals also appeared to originate from a small region of seven light years in diameter located in one of the arms of the galaxy, far outside the galactic center.
In other words, we have here two very different origins of repetitive signals. The first come from a small galaxy far away, emanating from a very dense region. And the others come from a large nearby galaxy, similar to the Milky Way, emanating from a region where new stars are forming.
The repetitive signals recorded last year come from a spiral galaxy located 500 million light years away. Credits: NSF / Gemini Observatory / AURA
"I'm really scratching my head"
With these two different origins, we do not yet know what produces these radio bursts.
"I'm really scratching my head," said Jason Hessels of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy. For FRB 121102, a young magnetar - a neutron star with an extremely strong magnetic field - appeared to be a very plausible model. For FRB 180916, it could be the interaction between two close objects, such as the jet of a black hole hitting the strong magnetic field of a neutron star. "
The researcher only makes assumptions here. The analyzes are still in progress. The advantage with this large galaxy is that it is within range of the largest optical, X-ray and gamma-ray telescopes on the planet. There is also talk that Hubble will soon be targeting it.
By detecting these emissions over several wavelengths, researchers will therefore be able to solve this mystery.
F I N .
