Science & Technology, UK (Commonwealth Union) – In a significant scientific breakthrough, researchers have witnessed the formation of rare chemical elements during the second-brightest gamma-ray burst ever recorded. This discovery sheds new light on the processes involved in the creation of heavy elements.
The investigation centered on the exceptionally brilliant gamma-ray burst GRB 230307A, which was the result of a collision between two neutron stars. This explosive event was meticulously observed using an array of ground and space-based telescopes, including NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, and the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.
The results of this research, published in the journal Nature recently, involve contributions from an international team of experts, including scientists from the University of Birmingham. Their findings reveal the presence of the heavy chemical element tellurium in the aftermath of the neutron star collision. Additionally, other elements vital for sustaining life on Earth, such as iodine and thorium, are likely to have been ejected during this explosive event, commonly referred to as a kilonova.
Dr. Ben Gompertz, an Assistant Professor of Astronomy at the University of Birmingham and co-author of the study, explains that gamma-ray bursts originate from high-velocity jets traveling at nearly the speed of light. In this case, the burst was triggered by the collision between two neutron stars, which had been spiraling toward each other for billions of years before their ultimate collision. Remarkably, the collision site is situated a distance equivalent to the length of the Milky Way—about 120,000 light-years—outside of their home galaxy, signifying that they were expelled together as a result of the collision. This discovery offers valuable insights into the remarkable phenomena occurring in the cosmos.
“Colliding neutron stars provide the conditions needed to synthesise very heavy elements, and the radioactive glow of these new elements powered the kilonova we detected as the blast faded. Kilonovae are extremely rare and very difficult to observe and study, which is why this discovery is so exciting.”
GRB 230307A stands out as one of the most brilliant gamma-ray bursts ever documented, outshining the entire Milky Way Galaxy combined by more than a million times. It marks the second instance in which distinct heavy elements have been discerned through spectroscopic observations following a neutron star merger, delivering priceless insights into the origin of these fundamental building blocks essential for life.
The study’s lead author, Professor Andrew Levan, an astrophysicist at Radboud University in the Netherlands, indicated that just a little more than 150 years since Dmitri Mendeleev introduced the periodic table of elements, they are presently at the point where we can begin to unveil those last mysteries about the origins of everything, thanks to the James Webb Telescope.
GRB 230307A exhibited an impressive duration of 200 seconds, classifying it as a long-duration gamma-ray burst. This classification is somewhat unusual because short gamma-ray bursts, lasting less than two seconds, are typically associated with neutron star mergers. Long gamma-ray bursts like GRB 230307A, on the other hand, are more commonly linked to the explosive demise of massive stars.
The research team is now embarking on a quest to deepen their understanding of the inner workings of neutron star mergers and the mechanisms underlying these colossal explosions responsible for generating essential elements.
Dr Samantha Oates, who is a co-author of the study while a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Birmingham and is presently a lecturer at Lancaster University says “Just a few short years ago discoveries like this one would not have been possible, but thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope we can observe these mergers in exquisite detail.”
The new findings are likely to be highly beneficial researchers in the field in unveiling more previously unknown areas.
