Brightest Gamma Ray Burst Detected | 01 Apr 2023
Why in News?
In October 2022, astronomers recorded the brightest gamma-ray radiation (named GRB 221009A) of all time, which could overturn a long-standing theory of GRB jets.
- The observation was conducted jointly by Center for Astrophysics, Harvard and Smithsonian’s Submillimeter Array (SMA) in Hawaii, the MeerKAT Array in South Africa, the US National Science Foundation’s Karl G Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico (USA), the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile and NCRA’s Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, India.
What is a Gamma-Ray Burst?
- About:
- Gamma-Ray Bursts are the most powerful class of explosions in the universe, and they occur when massive stars die.
- When a massive star collapses, it creates a black hole, and the energy released during this process produces jets of high-energy particles that travel almost at the speed of light.
- These jets pierce through the collapsing star, producing X-rays and gamma rays, which can be detected by observatories on Earth and in space.
- Types of GRBs:
- Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs):
- LGRBs last for more than two seconds and are thought to be caused by the collapse of massive stars, known as supernovae.
- These explosions release a tremendous amount of energy and create a black hole at their center.
- LGRBs are the most common type of GRB and can be observed from distant galaxies.
- Short-duration gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs):
- SGRBs last for less than two seconds and are thought to be caused by the collision of two compact objects, such as neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole.
- SGRBs are much rarer than LGRBs, are more difficult to observe and typically located closer to our galaxy.
- Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs):
What is GRB 221009A?
- About:
- GRB 221009A was detected in October 2022, by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, and Wind spacecraft.
- The signal originated from the direction of the constellation Sagitta, and it took approximately 1.9 billion years to reach Earth.
- The 5-minute-long radiation pulse was the brightest GRB ever and nearly 70 times brighter than any other such eruption ever observed.
- Observation from GRB 221009A:
- The pulse of radiation was unusually bright and long-lasting, which made it stand out from other gamma-ray bursts.
- The signal triggered detectors at multiple observatories, indicating its strength and duration.
- Researchers about 221009A:
- "Long-duration" GRBs occur when the core of a massive star collapses under its own weight, giving birth to a black hole.
- This formation produces powerful plasma jets that shoot gamma rays at almost the speed of light. When these jets collide with the gas surrounding the dying star, a bright afterglow is produced across the spectrum.
- Significance:
- Astronomers from the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics in India concluded that the signal was a birth cry of a black hole.
- GRB 221009A provides astronomers with valuable insights into the formation of black holes and the mechanisms that produce gamma-ray bursts.
- The detection of GRB 221009A will help astronomers refine their understanding of the conditions required for the formation of black holes and the production of gamma-ray bursts.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Q. Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘blackholes’ billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation? (2019)
(a) ‘Higgs boson particles’ were detected.
(b) ‘Gravitational waves’ were detected.
(c) Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through ‘wormhole’ was confirmed.
(d) It enabled the scientists to understand ‘singularity’.
Ans: (b)