NEW DELHI: A recent discovery in the cosmos has astronomers buzzing as they detected a gravitational-wave signal known as GW230529.
This signal, which was captured by the LIGO Livingston detector in May 2023, stems from a powerful collision deep in space.
Gravitational waves, triggered by the movement of massive celestial bodies like merging black holes or neutron stars, are a key concept in Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.These waves, traveling at the speed of light, provide a unique opportunity for scientists to explore previously hidden phenomena such as black hole mergers and the fundamental nature of gravity.
The collision responsible for GW230529 involved a neutron star and an object falling into the ‘mass gap‘ between neutron stars and black holes, challenging existing assumptions about such occurrences.
Neutron stars, with masses ranging from 1.4 to 2 times that of the Sun, exhibit extreme density and magnetic fields trillions of times stronger than Earth’s. These characteristics make them a focal point for astrophysical research into the universe’s most extreme conditions.
Assistant Professor Dr. Jess McIver from the University of British Columbia emphasized that the discovery suggests a higher frequency of similar collisions between neutron stars and low-mass black holes than previously believed.
“This discovery reveals that there may be a higher rate of similar collisions between neutron stars and low-mass black holes than we previously thought,” he said
Notably, this detection marks the first observation of a gravitational wave involving a mass-gap object alongside a neutron star, adding to the excitement in the scientific community.
Despite the significance of GW230529, pinpointing its exact origin remains a challenge. The detection, occurring just five days into the observation period, took place 650 million light-years away from Earth.
This signal, which was captured by the LIGO Livingston detector in May 2023, stems from a powerful collision deep in space.
Gravitational waves, triggered by the movement of massive celestial bodies like merging black holes or neutron stars, are a key concept in Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.These waves, traveling at the speed of light, provide a unique opportunity for scientists to explore previously hidden phenomena such as black hole mergers and the fundamental nature of gravity.
The collision responsible for GW230529 involved a neutron star and an object falling into the ‘mass gap‘ between neutron stars and black holes, challenging existing assumptions about such occurrences.
Neutron stars, with masses ranging from 1.4 to 2 times that of the Sun, exhibit extreme density and magnetic fields trillions of times stronger than Earth’s. These characteristics make them a focal point for astrophysical research into the universe’s most extreme conditions.
Assistant Professor Dr. Jess McIver from the University of British Columbia emphasized that the discovery suggests a higher frequency of similar collisions between neutron stars and low-mass black holes than previously believed.
“This discovery reveals that there may be a higher rate of similar collisions between neutron stars and low-mass black holes than we previously thought,” he said
Notably, this detection marks the first observation of a gravitational wave involving a mass-gap object alongside a neutron star, adding to the excitement in the scientific community.
Despite the significance of GW230529, pinpointing its exact origin remains a challenge. The detection, occurring just five days into the observation period, took place 650 million light-years away from Earth.