December 19, 2023, In a cosmic symphony of peculiar signals, scientists have captured an unprecedented occurrence within the depths of the cosmos. Amidst the repetition of fast radio bursts (FRBs), researchers have identified a drop in the center frequency of the signals, likened to a cosmic slide-whistle when translated into musical notes on a xylophone.
The mysterious nature of fast radio bursts, or FRBs, continues to intrigue scientists, defying easy explanations and offering glimpses into the enigmatic workings of the universe. FRBs are powerful bursts of radio emission lasting from microseconds to seconds, each releasing energy equivalent to 500 million Suns. While elusive and challenging to study, a select few FRB sources exhibit a unique behavior—they repeat, allowing for detailed analysis and potential insights into their origin.
One such repeater, known as FRB 20220912A, originating from a galaxy approximately one billion light-years away, has become the focus of recent observations by a team led by radio astronomer Sofia Sheikh from the SETI Institute. Analyzing 541 hours of data from the Allen Telescope Array, the researchers identified 35 bursts with an average duration of 1.2 milliseconds.
What sets FRB 20220912A apart are the distinctive characteristics shared with other FRBs, such as a downward frequency drift, a correlation between signal bandwidth and center frequency, and fluctuations in burst duration over time. Intriguingly, the researchers also observed a drop in the center frequency of the bursts over a two-month period, creating a unique auditory pattern reminiscent of a slide-whistle when translated into musical notes on a xylophone.
While the cause of this frequency drop remains unclear, scientists speculate that it could provide valuable information about the origin of FRBs. Current evidence suggests that at least some FRBs may originate from magnetars, but uncertainties persist regarding whether this holds true for all FRBs and the diverse behaviors associated with them.
The discovery emphasizes the significance of instruments like the Allen Telescope Array, capable of recording a wide range of bandwidths, enabling the detection of nuanced behaviors that might escape narrower-focused instruments. The researchers advocate for further observations of FRB sources, especially at higher frequencies, to unravel the mysteries surrounding these cosmic signals and differentiate between various progenitor models.
The study, soon to be published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, marks another step towards understanding the complexities of fast radio bursts and the intriguing phenomena occurring in the far reaches of our universe.
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Refer: https://www.sciencealert.com/bizarre-fast-radio-burst-exhibits-a-unique-signal-never-seen-before
