“Unlocking the Mystery of Repeating Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) from Space”

Jakarta –

A fast radio burst or flash of radio energy from outer space that is intense for milliseconds was first seen in 2007. The fast radio burst left mystery and astronomers confused.

After 16 years, astronomers are finally starting to solve the mystery of these fast radio bursts. According to astronomers, this kind of explosion can emit energy or light equivalent to the sun in a few days.

Launch page Science Alerta study published in the Journal of Science describes observations of fast radio bursts that occur several times over a period of more than a year.

Researchers revealed that this phenomenon is surrounded by a strong but volatile magnetic field.

The researchers say that the source of this explosion is part of a massive companion star or even a black hole consisting of a neutron star swirling through winds of dense, magnetic plasma.

Fast Radio Blast Never Stops Repeating

In 2022, astronomers at the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) in China discovered a repeating explosion known as FRB 20190520B.

FRB 20190520B differs from other rapidly repeating radio bursts in that it is the only burst that never stops. These explosions produce radio bursts several times an hour.

This unique phenomenon caught the attention of astronomers who eventually conducted research using other radio wavelengths.

This research shows that FRB 20190520B is in the dense environment of a small galaxy 3.9 billion light years away.

In addition, FRB 20190520B also has material that produces strong and continuous radio emissions. This is what led astronomers to assume that the source of the explosion came from a young neutron star in a complex environment.

Strong Magnetic Field

Astronomers used CSIRO’s Murriyang Parkes Telescope in New South Wales and the Green Bank Telescope in the United States to observe FRB 20190520B.

Astronomers discovered the surprising fact that FRB 20190520B produces relatively high radio frequency electromagnetic waves. Interestingly, these electromagnetic waves are stronger in one direction than the other.

This research reveals that the area around FRB 20190520B is very magnetic. Not only that, for 16 months they observed that the strength of the magnetic field varied greatly.

Black Hole Theory

Astronomers use the theory of massive stars or black holes in their observations. As it is known that this massive star or black hole has a stellar wind with a magnetic field around it.

According to the explosion source surrounded by the magnetic field direction time scale, the variability in apparent field strength, and dense plasma fit the description.

In addition, this repeated source of fast radio bursts creates a highly magnetic plasma. What’s more, there is a binary hypothesis which, if true, changes in the radio signal pattern from FRB 20190520B will fluctuate in the long term.

Therefore, astronomers will continue to observe FRB 20190520B with the Green Bank and Murriyang Telescopes to reveal the truth.

Watch Video “Astronomers Repeatedly Get Repeated Radio Signals from Exoplanets“

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