On March 7th, 2023, space observatories such as Fermi, Neil Gehrels Swift, and James Webb Space Telescope observed a massive explosion that created rare chemical elements. The space explosion or gamma-ray burst (GRB) was over one million times brighter than the Milky Way Galaxy. It was named a kilonova explosion, which happens at the merger of neutron stars. This particular burst was called GRB 230307A.
As of October 2023, the recent kilonova explosion was analyzed by an international team of astronomers, including astronomers from Radboud University, Netherlands, namely Ashley Chrimes, Nicola Gaspari, Andrew Levan, Daniele Bjorn Malesani and Maria Ravasio. They analyzed the rare elements of a kilonova explosion. The advanced James Webb Space Telescope was crucial in discovering tellurium within the cloud of material encircling the merger.
A kilonova explosion is a dramatic cosmic event resulting from the collision of two neutron stars, dense remnants of massive stars. As these neutron stars spiral inwards, driven by gravitational waves, they ultimately merge, releasing immense energy. This collision produces intense gamma-ray and X-ray radiation bursts, followed by a more extended phase of visible and infrared light.
Kilonovae plays a crucial role in creating and distributing heavy elements in the universe, including gold and platinum. They also offer insights into fundamental matter properties and contribute to understanding gravitational waves, enriching comprehension of space.
In March 2023, researchers were able to trace the origins of the two neutron stars involved in the kilonova explosion. It was revealed that the neutron stars belonged to a distant spiral galaxy situated 120,000 light years away from the eventual collision site. These stars embarked on a journey spanning several hundred million years before their fateful encounter and subsequent explosion.
The Fermi telescope initially detected the gamma-ray burst, prompting astronomers to utilize various ground- and space-based observatories to monitor changes in brightness across different wavelengths, encompassing gamma-ray, X-ray, visible, infrared, and radio waves of light. The rapid fluctuations in visible and infrared light strongly suggested that the event was a Kilonova.
The Kilonova event under scrutiny was a sporadic occurrence, a mere handful of which are known to science. Remarkably, this marked the first instance where scientists could investigate the aftermath of a Kilonova using the advanced James Webb Space Telescope. Andrew Levan, the study's lead author and an astrophysics professor at Radboud University in the Netherlands, also participated in the initial detection of a Kilonova in 2013.
One of the most significant discoveries associated with this Kilonova was the presence of tellurium, a scarce metalloid with applications in tinting glass, ceramics, and rewritable CDs and DVDs. This finding suggests that other elements neighboring tellurium on the periodic table, including iodine, vital for life on Earth, are likely to be present in the materials ejected by the Kilonova.
For a long time, astronomers have theorized that neutron star mergers serve as cosmic factories for generating heavy elements heavier than iron but obtaining concrete evidence has proven challenging.
Kilonovae are inherently rare events, making their observation difficult. Astronomers typically seek short gamma-ray bursts as indicators of these short-lived events that last for just a few seconds. The uniqueness of this particular burst lay in its 200 seconds, classifying it as a long gamma-ray burst, typically associated with supernovas resulting from massive star explosions.
This kind of explosion unfolds rapidly, and as the ejected material expands swiftly, it cools off, leading to the peak of its light being visible in the infrared spectrum and gradually transitioning to a reddish hue over days to weeks.
The observation and analysis of Kilonovae with advanced telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope and the forthcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (scheduled for launch in 2027) promise to provide valuable insights into the creation and release of heavy elements during these rare cosmic explosions. These discoveries enhance our understanding of how heavy elements are synthesized and disseminated throughout the universe.
Moreover, the study brought attention to the potential risks associated with Kilonovae. According to a researcher from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Haille Perkin, "While the likelihood of a Kilonova occurring near Earth is extremely low, the resultant gamma-ray radiation could be catastrophic if it were to happen within 36 light-years of our planet." Such radiation has the potential to strip electrons from atoms through ionization, leading to the destruction of Earth's ozone layer and exposing the planet to lethal doses of solar ultraviolet radiation for thousands of years.
The specific distance and danger parameters remain uncertain, as factors like viewing angle, energy release, and ejected material mass influence the outcomes. Cosmic rays are identified as the most substantial threat in this context.
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