Fast radio bursts (FRB) have been found in the Milky Way for the first time Flashcards
What is milky way?
galaxy that contains our Solar System, with the name describing the galaxy’s appearance from Earth.
[GALAXY]
What is radio waves?
Radio waves are the waves having the longest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum.
[PART OF ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM]
What is Electromagnetic Specturm?
Range of all types of electromagnetic radiation->Entire range (electromagnetic spectrum) is given by radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultra-violet radiation, X-rays, gamma rays and cosmic rays in the increasing order of frequency and decreasing order of wavelength
[ALL TYPES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATIONS TOGETHER]
What is the significance of this discovery?
FRB was not only the closest such signal ever recorded near the Earth. It was also 3,000 times brighter than any other magnetar radio signal detected till now.
[CLOSEST & BRIGHTEST SIGNAL]
How are FRBs generated?
FRBs are generated by a rare type of neutron star known as a ‘magnetar’.
[BY NEUTRON STAR MAGNETAR]
What are Magnetars?
A magnetar is a type of neutron star.
[NEUTRON STAR]
Magnetars are the most powerful magnets in the cosmos. Their magnetic fields are 5,000 trillion times more powerful than that of the Earth.
[MOST POWERFUL MAGNET]
What are the sources of latest FRBs?
From a magnetar known as SGR 1935+2154, located about 30,000 light-years from the earth.
[MAGNETAR]
Where does the source magnetar lie?
It lies in the centre of the Milky Way, in the constellation Vulpecula
[VULPECULA]
How is Neutron star formed?
Once the core of the star has completely burned to iron, energy production stops and the core rapidly collapses, squeezing electrons and protons together to form neutrons and neutrinos thus producing a neutron star.
- are very dense (mass of three times the Sun can be fit in a sphere of just 20km in diameter)
- If its mass is any greater, its gravity will be so strong that it will shrink further to become a black hole
[CORE CHA IRON HOTA JALUN & ENERGY PRODUCTION STOPS -> ELECTRON & PROTON COME TOGETHER TO BECOME NEUTRON]
