Photograph of early gamma ray burst

UK astronomers using the Swift NASA telescope have recently recorded information about the early stages of a gamma-ray explosion - the brightest and most powerful explosion occurring in the universe. after the Big Bang event.

Swift has both been able to identify and be able to move toward gamma ray bursts (GRB) much faster than any telescope. Using this ultraviolet optical telescope (UVOT) astronomers were able to record the GRB's ultraviolet spectrum of just 251 seconds after speaking - the earliest time to date. . Exploiting this method in the future helps astronomers calculate the distance and brightness of the GRB within a few hundred seconds from the first time it exploded, thereby gathering information about the cause of the explosion. as well as the galaxy that originates.

Many people now believe that some GRBs are caused by intense explosions following the explosion of the core of fast-rotating mass stars to become black holes. But behind this hypothesis there are many unanswered mysteries.

Martin Still of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) at UCL said: 'The UVOT wavelength range, along with the fact that Swift is a space observatory with a fast, unaffected speed. by the time of day or the weather, allow us to collect even this early stage ultraviolet spectrum '.

Paul Kuin also of MSSL explains: 'By observing the early occurrences of gamma ray bursts, we can not only calculate more accurately those such as the brightness and distance of the explosion, copper It is also possible to find galaxies that contain explosions as well as the effects of these explosions on the environment in the galaxy. Once this new technique is applied to much brighter explosions, we will have countless new data. '

Illustrate GRB. (Photo: NASA)

Massimiliano De Pasquale, a gamma ray research scientist from the UVOT team from MSSL, added: 'UVOT instruments are particularly suitable for studying explosions with a moderate to high redshift. - This is part of the ultraviolet spectrum which is difficult to study for large observatories located on the ground. Using UVOT, we can now detect redshift for hard-to-record explosions in the past and detect more galaxies containing them far away at a distance of approximately 10 million light years. shining'.

Professor Keith Mason, who is mainly responsible for the Council of Science and Technology Tools, said: 'This is an amazing thing for UVOT instruments and a new exciting development in research. about the most powerful explosions in the universe. Thanks to the hard work of UK scientists at MSSL and colleagues, we are now able to gather more information about early gamma-ray bursts and the universe '.

Since the launch of space in 2004, the Swift satellite has provided information for the most comprehensive studies to date on GRB and its light. Using UVOT to record ultraviolet spectra, the Swift team can even learn a lot about the chemical nature of galaxies where the explosion occurred. Paul Kuin said: 'This new spectrum not only allows us to determine the distance the galaxy takes a gamma-ray burst, but also reveals the density of the hydrogen clouds in it. Information about these distant galaxies helps us understand how they form in the early universe. The gamma-ray burst observed at this time comes from a galaxy located 8 billion light-years from Earth.

Swift is a NASA mission in collaboration with STFC in the United Kingdom and the Italian Aviation Authority (ASI).

Refer:
Kuin et al.GRB 081203A: Swift - UVOT captures the earliest ultraviolet spectrum of a gamma ray burst.Monthly Notices of Royal Astronomical Society Letters, 2009;DOI: 10.1111 / j.1745-3933.2009.00632.x