New findings propose that the universe's most dazzling and fleeting explosions could be initiated by unfortunate asteroids colliding with collapsed stars. Scientists have long been intrigued by fast radio bursts (FRBs), extraordinary explosions that manifest sporadically across the sky and endure for mere milliseconds, ranking among the most formidable cosmic events.
Fast Radio Burst Spotted in the Milky Way Galaxy
In a fortunate turn of events in 2020, Live Science reported that astronomers made a significant breakthrough by detecting an FRB within the Milky Way galaxy. Further investigations successfully pinpointed the origin of this FRB as a magnetar, a special type of neutron star formed from the remnants of an enormous exploded star.
Magnetars possess the most potent magnetic fields known in the universe, with the strongest ones being quadrillions of times stronger than Earth's magnetic field.
Prior to the FRB event, astronomers observed an intriguing occurrence linked to the magnetar; it experienced a glitch. Magnetars, along with other neutron stars, exhibit rapid and precise spinning.
As per Live Science's recent report, this particular magnetar had an exceptionally short rotation period of merely 3.9 seconds, despite its immense mass comparable to that of the sun compressed into a compact sphere spanning only a few miles.
Glitches refer to sudden alterations in the rotation speed of magnetars, which unleash an enormous amount of energy, potentially capable of generating fast radio bursts.
Although there is observational evidence suggesting a connection between magnetar glitches and the occurrence of FRBs, scientists have yet to uncover the exact mechanism responsible for this phenomenon. While several hypotheses have been proposed, the definitive understanding of this captivating cosmic event remains elusive.
Asteroid Crashed Into a Dead Star
In a recent study, titled "Tidal Capture of an Asteroid by a Magnetar: FRB-Like Bursts, Glitch, and Antiglitch" published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, researchers put forward an intriguing hypothesis that links the occurrence of fast radio bursts (FRBs) to the destruction of asteroids near magnetars.
According to their proposal, when an iron-rich asteroid comes too close to a magnetar, the intense gravitational forces tear it apart into numerous fragments. Some of these fragments enter orbit around the magnetar, affecting its angular momentum and causing a glitch-a sudden change in spin rate.
As the remaining pieces of the asteroid fall toward the magnetar's surface, they traverse the region of its strongest magnetic fields. Due to the abundance of electric charges within the iron-rich asteroids, the interaction between these charges and the powerful magnetic fields generates radiation, which manifests as a fast radio burst.
This explanation also offers insights into the occurrence of anti-glitches when a magnetar's spin unexpectedly slows down, as the proposed scenario can account for these phenomena if the asteroid moves in the opposite direction to the magnetar's spin during its fragmentation.
While this proposed scenario presents an appealing explanation for a specific type of FRB, it is crucial to note that various mechanisms likely contribute to the overall phenomenon. Recent research indicates the existence of different types of FRBs, including repetitive ones and those that occur only once. Further investigations are needed to unravel the full complexity of these enigmatic deep-space signals.
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