In March this year, scientists caught 10 powerful bursts of radio signals coming from the same area of space. Recently, scientists have caught another 6 new signals from the same site located outside of our milky Way. These fast discrete radio pulses (FRB) is very interested scientists with its uniqueness. They lasted only a few milliseconds, but for a very short period of time generates as much energy as the Sun could only for the whole day.
Before the discovery of the first 10 signals in March, almost all in the scientific community believed that these radio pulses are single events occurring in different parts of the Universe. As previously observed bursts were not possessed some common characteristic attribute, the researchers are unable to understand what actually is their source. Interestingly enough, by themselves, such impulses are not uncommon. Scientists say that across the Universe each day there are about 2000 FRB, however, their very low duration does not allow to find out their nature.
It is important to note that FRB open science began only in 2007 up to this point available scientific and technical equipment was not as powerful and accurate to be able in real time to follow them. As a rule, had to study these phenomena after they have occurred. This year, however, astronomers have found 16 of the emissions coming from the same direction, so the scientists, most likely, will finally be able to narrow it down and suspects in these incredibly powerful, but short bursts.
The first ten bursts of radio waves was captured by our telescopes in March of this year, however, as indicated by scientists, it goes back in may and June 2015. They not only turned out to be the first FRB-signals, detected outside the milky Way (all previously observed presumably formed in our galaxy), but also showed common features, which have never been observed.
Six radio signals were detected by the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico in the span of just 10 minutes between each, four others were discovered during the month, all 10 came from the same area of space. When a team of researchers reviewed earlier astronomical data, it was discovered that FRB-signal 2012 also came to us from the same area of space. That is a total of 11 signals originated from the same region. This led scientists to the idea that outside of the milky Way may be an unknown, but incredibly powerful source, capable of with very frequent intervals to send a short, but very strong signals.
Six new signals discovered by scientists from the canadian University of McGill. They all came from the same area of space, so the source of these radio signals decided in the end to give the common name of FRB 121102.
“We report radio and x – ray observations are now the only source of short-term, but recurring radio signals FRB 121102,” writes a team of researchers in the journal the Astrophysical journal.
“We found six more bursts of radio signals coming from this source: five of them were discovered with a telescope, green Bank at the frequency of 2 GHz, the latter at the frequency of 1.4 GHz were obtained using the telescope of the Arecibo Observatory. Now the total number of the same signals is 17”.
Command indicates that you cannot determine the exact location of FRB 121102, but given how their lower frequency was slowed down, it’s safe to say that it goes back far beyond the milky Way. And this information can give us some important clues about what exactly is their source.
One of the most popular assumptions is the collision of two neutron stars forming a black hole. In this view, the scientists pushed the specificity of the short duration of the signals. Two colliding neutron stars, most likely just emit bursts of radio waves all over the Universe.
However, the repetitive nature of these remote signals, especially given their single direction, can say that colliding neutron stars. At least in the case of these FRB signals. 17 all signals indicate that this region of space occur in less dramatic moments. The most likely hypothesis at the moment is that all these signals can come from some exotic object like a young neutron star, which rotates with such frequency that it is able to emit incredibly powerful pulses.
It should also be understood that the observed different types of FRB does not necessarily have to contradict each other. Earlier studies indicate that in the Universe can meet different types of discrete pulses having different source of origin. This at least is confirmed by the fact that the recurring radio pulses FRB 121102 were greater than those observed within our galaxy. However, without additional evidence, scientists are not yet ready to give a confident answer to the question about their real source.
“Whether the source of the radio pulses FRB 121102 unique object, or all of the RF pulses tend to be repeated – in any case, very interesting to find out and understand the principles and features for such a quick intergalactic radio transmissions,” the researchers say.
Scientists continue to monitor the sky and wait for the new FRB, both inside and outside our galaxy, hoping this time to find out exactly their nature. According to researchers, this knowledge will help us to unravel other mysteries of our Universe.
