Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (2024)

Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (1)Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (2)Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation

Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (4)

illustration onlyNear-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (5)

Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Oct 18, 2024


For decades, astronomers have focused on distant galaxies as the source of high-energy electromagnetic radiation. However, new observations from the HAWC observatory have revealed that microquasars - compact binary systems within our own galaxy - are also capable of producing gamma photons with extremely high energies.

Researchers from the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma-Ray Observatory (HAWC) have identified microquasars as a significant source of ultra-high-energy cosmic radiation. The discovery challenges long-standing views that supernova remnants were the primary accelerators of these particles. Scientists from the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IFJ PAN) played a key role in this finding, which was funded by the National Science Centre.

Located on the Sierra Negra volcano in Mexico, the HAWC observatory is designed to detect incoming high-energy particles from space. It uses 300 water tanks equipped with photomultipliers to capture Cherenkov radiation, allowing it to observe gamma photons with energies ranging from hundreds of gigaelectronvolts to teraelectronvolts. These gamma rays are far more energetic than visible light and even more powerful than protons accelerated by the Large Hadron Collider.

Typically, quasars - found in the nuclei of distant galaxies - are known for producing such high-energy radiation through jets of matter expelled by supermassive black holes. However, microquasars, which consist of a massive star and a black hole, can generate similarly powerful jets on a smaller scale. Several dozen microquasars have been identified within the Milky Way, with their jets extending for hundreds of light years.

Dr. Sabrina Casanova from IFJ PAN, along with Dr. Xiaojie Wang from Michigan Tech University and Dr. Dezhi Huang from the University of Maryland, led the research team that first detected an anomaly in HAWC's data - gamma photons from the microquasar V4641 Sagittarii (V4641 Sgr) carrying energies up to 200 teraelectronvolts. V4641 Sgr is located in the constellation Sagittarius, about 20,000 light years from Earth. Its jets, pointed towards our Solar System, create the illusion of moving faster than light due to relativistic effects, making it appear to travel at nine times the speed of light.

Dr. Casanova noted, "Photons detected from microquasars have usually much lower energies than those from the quasars. Meanwhile, we have observed something quite incredible in the data recorded by the detectors of the HAWC observatory: photons coming from a microquasar lying in our galaxy and yet carrying energies tens of thousands of times higher than typical!"

This groundbreaking discovery highlights that V4641 Sgr is not unique. Other microquasars, observed by the LHAASO observatory, also emit similarly powerful radiation. The study suggests that microquasars may significantly contribute to cosmic radiation within our galaxy.

Dr. Casanova added, "It therefore seems likely that microquasars significantly contribute to the cosmic ray radiation at the highest energies in our galaxy."

These new insights are not only important for cosmic ray research but also provide astronomers with an opportunity to study high-energy processes close to Earth. Unlike quasars in distant galaxies, which can take millions of years to evolve, the jets from microquasars can be observed in real-time over days. Moreover, the radiation from these nearby objects does not have to travel through vast intergalactic distances, where it can be scattered or absorbed, allowing for clearer observations.

Research Report:"Ultra-high-energy gamma-ray bubble around microquasar V4641 Sgr"

Related Links
Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences
Stellar Chemistry, The Universe And All Within It

Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (6)


Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (7)Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (8)Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (9)

RELATED CONTENT

Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (10)

The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (11)Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (12)


Hubble captures dramatic eruption of stellar duo
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Oct 17, 2024
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled a vivid and captivating close-up of R Aquarii, a binary star system located about 700 light-years from Earth. The system's chaotic eruptions create vast spirals of glowing gas, resembling a frenzied lawn sprinkler, and showcase the universe's process of recycling nuclear material expelled by stars. R Aquarii belongs to a category of double stars known as symbiotic stars. It features a red giant, which is over 400 times larger than the Sun and classified a ... read more

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.

Near-Earth Microquasar found to emit powerful gamma radiation (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Aron Pacocha

Last Updated:

Views: 6321

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aron Pacocha

Birthday: 1999-08-12

Address: 3808 Moen Corner, Gorczanyport, FL 67364-2074

Phone: +393457723392

Job: Retail Consultant

Hobby: Jewelry making, Cooking, Gaming, Reading, Juggling, Cabaret, Origami

Introduction: My name is Aron Pacocha, I am a happy, tasty, innocent, proud, talented, courageous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.