The University of London developed a methane absorption spectrum

By using the most advanced supercomputers, a team of scientists at the University of London has successfully developed a methane absorption spectrum that is 2,000 times more extensive than previous models and can deliver methane molecules appear at temperatures up to 1220 degrees Celsius. Scientists believe that the new model will help determine the presence of methane, one of the basic life-forming components on the distant crystal in the universe and may even detect the existence of aliens in the near future.

As we all know, each different molecule absorbs light in different ways. When astronomers observe how the atmosphere of a planet absorbs light from another star, they can compare it with the spectral system to determine the chemical composition in the atmosphere. However, until now, the absorption line spectra of methane still exceed the limits of the spectral models, especially in high temperature conditions. The main reason is because no one has ever calculated how high-energy molecules will absorb light.

And in a research project led by astrophysicist Sergei Yurchenko from the University of London, made calculations and developed a complete list of nearly 10 million lines of line spectra, each representative line for a different color to show the degree of light absorption of methane molecules. The above study was presented in detail on June 16 at the British National Academy of Sciences.

In order to fulfill this difficult task, the research team used the most modern supercomputing system in the UK provided by Cambridge University in the framework of the Supercomputing Scientific Research Project (DiRAC). Professor Yurchenko said: "We have taken full advantage of the power of computers. This research requires the CPU system to operate continuously for millions of hours to perform very complicated calculations."

The team hopes that the new model will provide astronomers with a more complete picture of the abundance of methane in the universe in different states. Even identifying the presence of methane opens up the prospect of finding alien life in the near future.

To test the newly created model, Yurchenko and his colleagues found the planet "hot Jupiter", HD 189733b , a blue planet located 63 light-years from Earth. . Accordingly, the group has confirmed that the methane ratio here is 20 times higher than the previous conclusion. However, methane is just one of many characteristics in the planet's atmosphere. Through observation, the team also found that the surface temperature of HD 189733b could reach 930 degrees Celsius and rains in the form of molten glass.

In addition to determining the atmospheric composition and geology of a planet through the presence of methane, this organic compound is also called a sign of biological activity. In other words, finding methane in the universe is also the key to the prospect of discovering life beyond Earth. Of course, planet HD 189733b is not a place to support the life of organisms even though the atmosphere still contains methane.

However, the new spectral system has solved the problem of temperature which is a barrier to astronomers' research. Professor Yurchenko also said that methane is only one element of life and many other conditions need to be found, typically the new country can lead to conclusions about extraterrestrial life. In the future, the group will continue to study to expand the spectrum of spectra to allow the presence of about 30 other compounds in the planet's atmosphere several light years away.