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The first radio explosion found in the Milky Way now repeats away from the magnetar – a neutron star with a strong magnetic field – 32,616 light-years away.
The first bursts of energy were detected in April and scientists have identified two more, confirming that the fast radio bursts are “emitted at a magnetic distance by the magnetar.”
A team working with the Westerbrok telescope in the Netherlands picked up the signal, which came in the form of two short bursts, each one millisecond long and 1.4 seconds apart.
Additionally, the bursts are not emitted at the same intensity, suggesting that the magnetar may have more than one process capable of producing fast radio bursts.
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The first flash of energy was detected in April and scientists have identified two more, confirming that the fast radio bursts are “emitted by magnets at cosmological distance”.
Rapid radio bursts (FRBs) are mysterious, short-pulsed, and although their origin is unclear, scientists are using these bursts of energy to study space on their journey to Earth.
The magnetar under study, or “SGR 1935 + 2154”, is the closest source to the volcano detected so far – the closest being about 490 million light-years in another galaxy.
The first eruption, the first in our galaxy, was observed in April by telescopes in Canada and the United States.
The two most recent, observed by Chalmers University of Technology, were captured by four European radio telescopes shown at SGR 1935 + 2154.
A team working with the Westerbrok telescope in the Netherlands picked up the signal, which came in the form of two short bursts, each one millisecond long and 1.4 seconds apart.
One course in the Netherlands and one in Poland, as well as two at the Onsala Space Observatory in Sweden.
Telescopes combine neutron stars every night for more than four weeks after April.
Mark Snelders, team member at the Anton Pancake Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam, said: “We didn’t know what to expect. Our radio telescopes are rarely able to see fast radio bursts and this source appears to be doing something new. We hope to be amazed! ‘
After 522 hours of observation, the small telescope observation team in the Netherlands received “a dramatic and unexpected signal”.
Kenzie Nimmo, astronomer at the Anton Pancake Institute of Astronomy and ASTRON, said: “We can clearly see two sticks, very close to time.”
“As the Flash seen from the same source on April 28, it appears that the fast radio bursts we saw from the distant universe have just vanished. The two eruptions we were aware of on May 24 were even weaker. ‘
Magnetars – the rotating remnants of some supernova explosions – are very dense and surrounded by a very strong magnetic field that sometimes releases radiation, usually in the form of gamma rays and X-rays as they decay.
Experts believe that magnetars have large reserves of energy that can cause rapid radio bursts, which can be released directly from a star’s surface – in what is called a “stellar earthquake” – or a magnetic environment.
After 522 hours of recorded observations, the small team monitoring the telescope in the Netherlands (pictured) received a dramatic and unexpected signal.
Jason Hessels, of Anton Pancake and the ASTRON Institute for Astronomy, The Netherlands, said: “This brighter flash magnetar is at least ten million times brighter than its faintest.
“We were wondering if this could also apply to the source of the fast radio blast outside our galaxy?
“If so, then the magnets in the universe are creating radiant radio waves that can pass through the cosmos at any time – and many of which can be reached by small telescopes like us.”
Scientists are interested in the fast radio eruption, not only because of its origin, but also because it can reveal more about the parts of the universe that passed before reaching Earth.
The team plans to direct the radio telescope assembly towards SGR 1935 + 2154 and other nearby magnetars, in hopes of finding out how these extreme stars blast their radiation from close range.
Franz Kirsten, astronomer at Chalmers’ Onsala Space Observatory, who leads the project, said: “The fireworks from this magnificent magnetar have given us some interesting clues to the speed of the radio bursts.”
“The eruption we detected on May 24 could indicate a dramatic disturbance in the star’s magnetosphere, near its surface.”
“Another possible explanation, such as a shock wave further away from the magnetar, seems unlikely, but I’m glad I was wrong.”
“Whatever the answer, we can expect new steps and new surprises in the months and years to come.
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