X-ray view of wreckage from a star-killing cosmic explosion reveals magnetic surprise Type_News - Channel_Other HEAD TOPICS
X-ray view of wreckage from a star-killing cosmic explosion reveals magnetic surprise
10/21/2022 5:02:00 PM X-ray view of wreckage from a star-killing cosmic explosion reveals magnetic surprise
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X-ray view of wreckage from a star-killing cosmic explosion reveals magnetic surprise Using NASA's IXPE space observatory astronomers have mapped polarized X-rays from Cassiopeia A the remains of a massive star that went supernova. over 300 years ago.and protons and accelerate them to speeds approaching that of light. These particles are, despite their super-speed, trapped around supernova remnants traveling in curved paths. Now, thanks to IXPE data, astronomers can measure this polarization for X-ray light and thus unlock the secrets of the magnetic fields around Cas A. (opens in new tab)Read more:Reconstructing a star's explosive scene of death . Small amounts of polarization indicate that the magnetic fields are close to the leading shockwaves, or shockfront. This is because magnetic fields near a shockfront are tangled and chaotic, oriented in different directions resulting in less polarization. Read more:
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Read more >> Scientists use new NASA tool to map the remains of an exploded starUsing NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), astronomers have measured and mapped polarized X-rays from the remains of an exploded star called Cassiopeia A , shedding new light on the nature of young supernova remnants. NASA Astronaut Nicole Mann, 1st Native American Woman in Space, Awed by Mother EarthThe first Native American woman in space says she’s overwhelmed by the beauty and delicacy of Mother Earth. She’s also channeling “positive energy” as her five-month mission gets underway at the International Space Station, something she learned from her mother. Hubble Space Telescope sees unexpected twin 'tails' from NASA asteroid impactMeghan is a senior writer at Space.com and has more than five years' experience as a science journalist based in New York City. She joined Space.com in July 2018, with previous writing published in outlets including Newsweek and Audubon. Meghan earned an MA in science journalism from New York University and a BA in classics from Georgetown University, and in her free time she enjoys reading and visiting museums. Follow her on Twitter at meghanbartels. Debris, being tossed randomly in space. What could go wrong. Umm, doesn't every single comet have two tails? Why is it 'Unexpected' for the asteroid impact? Una lluvia de escombros de diez mil metros de largo a un millón de kilometros y a un millón de kilometros está el telescopio James Webb. Que puede salir mal? NASA to Discuss Science on Next Northrop Grumman Space Station MissionNASA will host a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 25, to discuss the next science investigations, technology demonstrations, crew supplies, and hardware bound for the International Space Station aboard Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft on the company’s 18th commercial resupply mission for NASA. Space_Station Why is everybody silent on this? 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As the core of the star collapsed, it triggered a massive supernova and sent these shockwaves through what was once the star's outer layers. Light from the destruction of this massive star and the creation of the Cas A stellar wreckage — which is around 29 light-years wide — swept over over 300 years ago. Using NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), astronomers have measured and mapped polarized X-rays from the remains of an exploded star called Cassiopeia A, shedding new light on the nature of young supernova remnants, by NASA published on Tuesday. In the extreme conditions found around supernova remnants like Cas A, magnetic fields grab charged particles like electrons and protons and accelerate them to speeds approaching that of light. “But that positive energy is so important, and you can control that energy, and it helps to control your attitude. These particles are, despite their super-speed, trapped around supernova remnants traveling in curved paths. It is the first satellite that can measure the polarization of X-ray light with this level of sensitivity and clarity. When charged particles travel along curved paths at speeds near that of light — or relativistic speeds — they generate an intense form of light called synchrotron radiation. 8, the NASA statement notes. This radiation escapes the supernova remnant across a range of wavelengths of light including low-energy radio waves and high-energy X-rays. Unlike the polarized sunglasses we use to cut the glare from sunlight bouncing off a wet road or windshield, IXPE’s detectors maps the tracks of incoming X-ray light. “What that does is it just highlights our diversity and how incredible it is when we come together as a human species, the wonderful things that we can do and that we can accomplish,” she said. This radiation is polarized by magnetic fields regardless of its wavelength, meaning that encoded within it is information about the magnetic field of the supernova remains from which it originates. Now, thanks to IXPE data, astronomers can measure this polarization for X-ray light and thus unlock the secrets of the magnetic fields around Cas A. Cassiopeia A (Cas A for short) was the first object IXPE observed after it began collecting data selected because its shock waves are some of the fastest in the Milky Way. "Without IXPE, we have been missing crucial information about objects like Cas A," Center for Astrophysics at Harvard & Smithsonian, Pat Slane, who leads the IXPE investigations of supernova remnants, said in a statement (opens in new tab) . That changed later in her career."This result is teaching us about a fundamental aspect of the debris from this exploded star — the behavior of its magnetic fields. “This result is teaching us about a fundamental aspect of the debris from this exploded star – the behavior of its magnetic fields. " Studying the polarization of light from Cas A has enabled astronomers to reverse engineer the processes that are occurring within the supernova remnant at small scales. This has allowed them to gather details about Cas A and its magnetic field that are unobtainable in any other way. X-ray: Chandra: NASA/CXC/SAO; IXPE: NASA/MSFC/J. Scott McGrew reports. Read more: Cassiopeia A as imaged by the Chandra X-ray observatory with annotations that mark the polarization vectors of its X-rays as seen by IXPE. (Image credit: Chandra: NASA/CXC/SAO; IXPE: NASA/MSFC) Reconstructing a star's explosive scene of death The angle of polarization of the light from a supernova remnant reveals the direction of its magnetic field . By studying the polarization of Cas A’s light, scientists can “reverse engineer” what’s happening inside the star at very small scales. Small amounts of polarization indicate that the magnetic fields are close to the leading shockwaves, or shockfront.” Mann rocketed into orbit with SpaceX on Oct. This is because magnetic fields near a shockfront are tangled and chaotic, oriented in different directions resulting in less polarization. They were wrong. "These IXPE results were not what we expected, but as scientists, we love being surprised," University of Amsterdam astrophysicist and lead author Jacco Vink said in the statement (opens in new tab) ."The fact that a smaller percentage of the X-ray light is polarized is a very interesting — and previously undetected — property of Cas A. "These IXPE results were not what we expected, but as scientists we love being surprised,” said Dr. She and her husband, a retired Navy fighter pilot, have a 10-year-old son back home in Houston." This low polarization implies that X-rays from Cas A are generated in turbulent regions with a mix of many different magnetic field directions. "This study enshrines all the novelties that IXPE brings to astrophysics," said Riccardo Ferrazzoli, study co-author and researcher at the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics and Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology in Rome. “The fact that a smaller percentage of the X-ray light is polarized is a very interesting – and previously undetected – property of Cas A. "Not only did we obtain information on X-ray polarization properties for the first time for these sources, but we also know how these change in different regions of the supernova. "As the first target of the IXPE observation campaign, Cas A provided an astrophysical 'laboratory' to test all the techniques and analysis tools that the team has developed in recent years. “This study enshrines all the novelties that IXPE brings to astrophysics,” said Dr." Read more: An artist's depiction of the IXPE observatory in space. (Image credit: NASA) Observations of radio wave synchrotron radiation from Cas A with radio telescopes had previously shown that is produced in regions across almost the entire supernova remnant. “Not only did we obtain information on X-ray polarization properties for the first time for these sources, but we also know how these change in different . Only a small amount of these radio waves — about 5% — are polarized. This radio wave data seems to indicate that the magnetic field of Cas A is oriented radially like the spokes of a bike wheel radiating out from its center to its outer rim.” SHOW COMMENT. Observations for higher energy X-ray synchrotron radiation taken by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory tell a different story, however. These higher energy emissions seemed to come from thin regions along the shockwaves, near the circular outer rim of Cas A, an area where the magnetic fields are predicted to align with the shocks. Prior to IXPE, scientists predicted X-ray polarization would be produced by magnetic fields that are aligned at 90 degrees (perpendicular ) to magnetic fields that polarize the radio wave radiation. IXPE X-ray data suggest instead that the magnetic fields that polarize this high-energy light are aligned radially and are located close to the shockfront. The X-rays from Cas A also seem to possess a lower amount of polarization than even the radio waves. Related stories: .