‘Silent Scream of Space’: Scientists discover origin of repeating radio signals from the depths of cosmos
Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Introduction:
Astronomers have successfully traced the source of mysterious repeating radio waves detected from space, a phenomenon that has puzzled scientists since 2022. The new research suggests that these bursts originate from a red dwarf star, likely in a binary system with a white dwarf.
The Discovery of Repeating Pulses:
In 2022, scientists discovered periodic radio bursts repeating every 18 minutes, a signal that outshone its surroundings for three months before disappearing. The discovery challenged existing theories about radio pulsars, which are believed to spin rapidly and emit radio waves.
The Mystery Behind Long-Period Radio Transients:
The bursts, now categorized as “long-period radio transients,” have puzzled scientists due to their slow frequency. While similar sources have been identified, none had an explanation until this breakthrough research.
Search for the Source in Sparse Regions:
Using the Murchison Widefield Array radio telescope, scientists expanded their search to more sparsely populated areas of the Milky Way. Their efforts paid off with the identification of a new source, GLEAM-X J0704-37, which emits radio pulses every 2.9 hours.
Using the MeerKAT Telescope for Follow-up Observations:
Further observations with South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope helped pinpoint the location of the radio pulses to a red dwarf star, which is extremely common in the Milky Way but usually too faint to be visible to the naked eye.
The Role of a White Dwarf:
The study suggests that the red dwarf star is likely part of a binary system with a white dwarf, which is the most probable source of the radio waves. The gravitational interactions between the two stars likely generate the periodic bursts.
Radio Emissions and Stellar Winds:
The researchers propose that the red dwarf’s stellar wind collides with the white dwarf’s magnetic field, accelerating charged particles and generating the radio waves. This process is similar to how the Sun’s solar wind creates auroras on Earth.
Future Research:
The team hopes to further investigate other similar systems to build a comprehensive model for explaining long-period radio transients. While there may be multiple sources of these signals, the discovery offers new insights into stellar interactions and cosmic radio waves.