NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has made an exciting discovery. It found a new feature in the brightest gamma-ray burst ever recorded. This burst, known as the BOAT (Brightest Of All Time), was first observed in October 2022.
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are powerful explosions in space. They release a huge amount of energy. The BOAT was so bright that it caught the attention of astronomers worldwide. The Fermi Telescope has been studying this burst since it was first detected.
The new feature discovered by Fermi is an unusual energy peak. This peak was recorded just a few minutes after the burst erupted. Lead researcher Maria Edvige Ravasio from Radboud University in the Netherlands said, “When I first saw that signal, it gave me goosebumps.” This is the first high-confidence emission line seen in 50 years of studying GRBs.
GRBs are produced when a large star’s core collapses. This collapse creates a black hole. A portion of the star’s material gets diverted into jets. The speed of these jets is almost identical to light. We witness a gamma-ray burst when one of these jets points directly towards Earth.
The BOAT provided scientists with a new high-energy feature to study. This feature is important because it helps scientists understand the processes happening in these powerful explosions. The energy peak recorded by Fermi is a key part of this understanding.
The discovery was published in the journal Science on July 26, 2024. The paper explains how the energy peak was detected and what it means for our understanding of GRBs.
We have found that there is less than one possibility in half a billion that this pattern is simply a noise fluctuation, according to coauthor Om Sharan Salafia of INAF-Brera Observatory in Italy. This indicates how trustworthy the discovery is.
The universe’s most intense explosions are known as GRBs. They emit gamma rays, which are the highest-energy form of light. There are two types of GRBs: long bursts and short bursts. Long bursts last more than two seconds and are usually linked to the deaths of massive stars. Short bursts last less than two seconds and are thought to result from the mergers of neutron stars or a neutron star merging with a black hole.
The BOAT is a long burst. Because its narrow jet was aimed straight at Earth, it was extremely brilliant. Scientists found it easier to research as a result. The new feature discovered by Fermi adds to our understanding of these powerful events.
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has been in operation since 2008. It has made many important discoveries in the field of astrophysics. The telescope is designed to study gamma rays from space. Its two primary instruments are the Large Area Telescope (LAT) and the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM). Together, these tools enable the detection and investigation of gamma rays.
The discovery of the new feature in the BOAT is a major milestone for the Fermi mission. It shows that even after more than a decade of operation, the telescope is still making groundbreaking discoveries. This new feature will help scientists learn more about the most powerful explosions in the universe.
Discovering a new feature in the brightest gamma-ray burst ever recorded is a significant achievement. It provides new insights into the processes happening in these powerful explosions. The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope continues to be a valuable tool for scientists studying the universe.
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