A radio "laser" from 8B years away lights up Earth
13 hours ago
- #gravitational-lensing
- #megamaser
- #astrophysics
- Dr. Thato Manamela describes the discovery as extraordinary, likening it to a radio equivalent of a laser halfway through the universe.
- The signal, named HATLAS J142935.3-002836, is a naturally enhanced astrophysical maser from colliding galaxies, emitted when the universe was half its current age.
- Hydroxyl megamasers form in colliding galaxies, where hydroxyl molecules emit coherent microwaves, similar to a laser but in the microwave spectrum.
- These megamasers act as 'cosmic beacons,' revealing galaxy collisions even at great distances, with this particular signal being exceptionally bright, possibly a 'gigamaser.'
- Gravitational lensing by a foreground galaxy magnifies the maser signal, making it detectable and providing insights into galaxy mergers.
- The MeerKAT radio telescope array, combined with advanced data processing, played a crucial role in detecting this rare signal.
- Scientists aim to discover more lensed maser systems to study galaxy evolution under extreme conditions, with hopes of finding hundreds or thousands more.