NEW ORLEANS. Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery by tracing the origin of one of the most powerful and distant fast radio bursts (FRBs) ever recorded to an extraordinary group of galaxies. This unexpected finding may provide crucial insights into the mysterious cosmic phenomena that have baffled scientists for years.
The intense radio signal, designated FRB 20220610A, was first observed on June 10, 2022, and traveled an astonishing 8 billion light-years to reach Earth. FRBs are brief, millisecond-long bursts of radio waves with unknown origins. Since the discovery of the first FRB in 2007, these enigmatic flashes have continued to perplex astronomers as they emanate from various points across the universe.
FRB 20220610A, lasting less than a millisecond, was four times more energetic than previously detected FRBs, equivalent to the energy released by our sun over 30 years, as reported in an initial study published in October.
To trace the origins of this powerful burst, astronomers utilized the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope in Western Australia and the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile. The observations led them to a unique celestial structure initially thought to be a single irregular galaxy or a trio of interacting galaxies.
Further examination, using images from the Hubble Space Telescope, revealed that FRB 20220610A originated from a compact group of at least seven galaxies closely situated, fitting inside the Milky Way galaxy. These galaxies, possibly in the process of merging, form an exceptional and dense structure known as a compact group.
Lead study author Alexa Gordon, a doctoral student at Northwestern University, stated, “Without the Hubble’s imaging, it would still remain a mystery as to whether this FRB originated from one monolithic galaxy or from some type of interacting system.”
Astronomers speculate that the interaction of galaxies in this compact group, potentially triggering bursts of star formation, may have contributed to the occurrence of the fast radio burst.
The discovery challenges previous observations linking FRBs primarily to isolated galaxies, as FRB 20220610A is associated with a compact group, a rare occurrence in the study of these cosmic events.
Astronomers hope that further investigations into the origins of FRBs will shed light on the underlying causes of these mysterious phenomena, contributing to a deeper understanding of the universe. As technology advances, researchers anticipate more sensitive methods for detecting FRBs, providing opportunities to discover additional bursts at even greater distances.
The findings were presented at the 243rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society in New Orleans, where scientists emphasized the importance of studying various environments to unravel the mysteries surrounding fast radio bursts.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
