Astronomers at Curtin University’s International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research have made a groundbreaking discovery that could unravel the mysteries of long-period radio transients. Led by Associate Professor Natasha Hurley-Walker and student Csanád Horváth, the team identified a unique energy pulse originating from deep space within data from the Murchison Widefield Array.
This energy burst, occurring every three hours, marks the longest-period radio transient ever recorded. These rare events have puzzled scientists due to their elusive nature and unknown radio wave sources. However, the recent finding of a transient named GLEAM-X J0704-37 in the Puppis constellation has provided crucial insights.
Unlike previous transients within the bustling Milky Way, GLEAM-X J0704-37 was located in a sparsely populated region, allowing researchers to pinpoint its source to a specific star system. Through observations using the MeerKAT telescope and the SOAR observatory, the team identified the star as an M dwarf, a low-mass star that alone couldn’t produce the observed energy levels.
The data suggested that the M dwarf was in a binary system with a white dwarf, collectively generating the intense radio emissions. This discovery not only sheds light on the mysterious long-period transients but also underscores the importance of further exploration into binary star systems.
Further investigations revealed that GLEAM-X J0704-37 had been active for at least a decade, hinting at the possibility of more undiscovered transients lurking in astronomical archives worldwide. The wealth of data stored in the Murchison Widefield Array’s archive, amounting to 55 petabytes, provides a treasure trove for astronomers seeking to unravel the universe’s mysteries.
Professor Steven Tingay, the Director of the MWA, emphasized the significance of these findings, highlighting the instrumental role of the telescope in enabling such discoveries. The MWA’s vast data repository offers a unique opportunity for astronomers to delve deeper into cosmic phenomena and unravel the complexities of the universe.
The team’s research, recently published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, signifies a major breakthrough in astrophysical studies and paves the way for further exploration into the enigmatic realm of long-period radio transients.
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