The detection of FRB 20220610A provides a unique opportunity to study the distant past of the universe
An unprecedented discovery has rocked the astronomical community: a mysterious and powerful burst of radio waves has reached Earth after traveling through space for 8 billion years. The signal, called FRB 20220610A, is one of the most distant and energetic signals ever observed. Earth.com Report.
Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are brief, intense flashes of radio waves that continue to confound scientists. Their origin remains a cosmic mystery, with theories ranging from neutron stars to alien celestial bodies.
The detection of FRB 20220610A provides a unique opportunity to study the distant past of the universe. The extreme distance of the signal suggests that it originated in a galaxy very far from our own, providing a glimpse into processes and phenomena that are otherwise beyond our reach.
Macquarie University astronomer Dr. Stuart Ryder is leading a team of scientists investigating this cosmic mystery. Through advanced research techniques, they hope to uncover the source of FRBs and gain valuable insights into the fundamental processes of the universe.
The full study was published in the journal Science,
What are fast radio bursts?
Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are brief, intense pulses of radio waves that last only milliseconds. Since their discovery in 2007, FRBs have fascinated scientists around the world due to their mysterious nature.
For example, the recent FRB emitted as much energy in a fraction of a second as our Sun produces in 30 years.
Scientists believe these powerful explosions may be linked to magnetars, which are the highly energetic remnants of supernova explosions.
To detect and locate the origin of this particular FRB, astronomers used the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP). “ASKAP's radio dish helped us pinpoint where the burst originated,” Dr. Ryder explained.
The investigation didn't stop there. Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, the team identified the source galaxy, which turned out to be older and more distant than any previously recorded FRB source.
Believe it or not, these fleeting cosmic explosions can help us “weigh” the universe. There is a gap between the normal matter we can see and the matter cosmologists believe should exist. Could the missing matter be beyond our visual range?
“More than half of the normal matter that exists today is missing,” says Professor Ryan Shannon. He suggests that this “missing” matter may be hidden in vast, hot and scattered regions between galaxies, making it difficult to detect by conventional methods.
This is where FRBs come in. Their ability to “sense” ionized matter in near space enables scientists to measure the matter located between galaxies. In 2020, Australian astronomer Jean-Pierre Macquart developed a method, now called the Macquart relation, that uses FRBs to detect this hidden matter.
“This detection confirms the McQuart relation, even for explosions that occur in the middle of the universe,” says Dr. Ryder.
The missing substance puzzle
The universe is vast and still holds many mysteries, especially the mismatch between observed and theoretical matter. The discovery of FRBs and their ability to detect hidden matter provides a promising tool for solving this cosmic puzzle. As Professor Shannon explains, FRBs can detect electrons even in nearly empty space, allowing us to measure the elusive matter scattered throughout the universe.