Indian astronomers have recently achieved an exciting breakthrough with the discovery of 34 new giant radio sources (GRSs) using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). This discovery is a big step in understanding the universe.
The groundbreaking discovery was made possible by two exceptional PhD students, Netai Bhukta and Souvik Manik, who joined with distinguished astronomers Sabyasachi Pal and Sushanta K. Mondal. Their research used data from the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey (TGSS) at 150 MHz. This survey covered about 90% of the sky from 2010 to 2012.
What Are Giant Radio Sources?
Giant radio sources in space are powered by supermassive black holes at their centers, with masses millions to billions of times that of the Sun. The black holes ionize surrounding matter, creating powerful electromagnetic forces. These forces propel material to the edges, forming hot plasma jets and giant radio emission lobes.
Galactic radio sources (GRSs) are some of the largest structures in the universe. They can reach millions of light years from end to end. Their size and rarity make them interesting for studying the evolution of radio sources and the intergalactic medium.
The Discovery Process
The GMRT, which is situated near Khodad village about 90 km north of Pune, India, played a crucial role in this significant discovery. The telescope is operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). The TGSS data, with its low frequencies and high sensitivity, made it possible to identify these 34 GRSs.
The research team used the TGSS Alternative Data Release 1 (ADR1) at 150 MHz to discover new GRSs, some of which are among the most distant objects of their kind. Two of these GRSs, J0843+0513, and J1138+4540, challenge the idea that GRSs grow only in low-density environments.
Importance of the Discovery
This Discovery is essential for several reasons. First, it adds to the number of known GRSs. Twenty years ago, only about 100 GRSs were known. With new telescopes like GMRT and LOFAR, the number has grown to a few thousand. This shows that many more giant sources are still yet to be discovered.
Second, the Discovery provides insights into the large-scale structure of the universe. These galaxies’ enormous size and powerful radio emissions offer valuable information. They help astronomers understand the late stages of radio galaxy evolution.
Future Research
The team is dedicated to advancing their research. Their goal is to incorporate fresh samples and in-depth physical properties in upcoming studies. These studies will harness multi-wavelength observations to gain deeper insights into GRSs. The goal is to understand what makes these structures grow so large and how they evolve.
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