A powerful new method is to change astronomers observing black holes, by making sharp, many images that can reveal their dynamic evolution in real time.
By compensating for land disorder, the technique – called the frequency phase transfer (FPT) – allows scientists using global Hunfresh Horizon Telescope . Black holes) than before. This method also enhances frequent observations by expanding the essential window of EHT, allowing scientists to produce time-lapse.
An international team of researchers have put this new technique to the test using three of the 12 telescopes to the eht array, including the IRAM 30-meter Telescope Telescope and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescate and Submillimeter Array Observatories in Hawai’i, According to a statement from the center for Astrophysics in Harvard & Smithsonian (CFA).
The challenge of observing the cosmos with ground-based telescopes begins with Atmosphere on the groundThat distort radio waves from space, according to Sara Istaun, president of new study and a CFA astronomer. These distortions are more likely to have a problem with higher frequencies such as 230 gigahertz (GHz) bands – also used in millimeter – where signals used in atmospheric and water vapor. As a result, data can only be collected for a short time, denying sensitivity and making it more difficult to find vulnerable signals.
FPT technique works by exploiting the fact that atmospheric differences affect different frequencies in the same ways, making a measure of correlation. By observing a lower frequency, particularly 86 GHz, experiencing a slow atmospheric change, scientists use data to be corrected for faster for the fastest differences in 230 GHz. It allows higher periods to averaging higher frequencies, which are significantly enlightened with signal’s explanation and sensitivity. This performance jump may find EHT that Dimmer Black and Miner details before, Istaoun told Space.com.
EHT is a global network of radio telescopes using a technique called high baseline interferometry (VLBI) in digital mix of observations from around the world. Now, EHT operates only 10 days per April, if weather conditions often align widespread telescopes. With FPT, astronomers can extend the window, opening opportunities to observe black holes as quickly and quickly, even in less good weather conditions.
That incremental addition is the key to a significant purpose for EHT: Change images of black holes In the movies That shows how they change the weather. Because most of the black holes change slowly, repeat observations are important to keep track of how to seize their environment, how Material jets launched, and how the magnetic transferred. By observing the whole year, EHT can watch black holes change a lot of time – to catch odd in real time, Istaun said.
In order to do this possible, EHT row telescopes are upgraded to support simultaneous observations of several frequencies. This includes adding recipients for 86 GHz bands. However, not all binoculars In row should be outfitted with new receiver for FPT to be effective. Even partial implementation can enhance the performance of the whole network, because all telescopes work in tandem to build a complete picture of a cosmic target. While the required hardware upgrades are relatively minor, each telescope has unique technical constraints, which challenges the challenges of implementation, according to Istaaun.
In addition to raising performance, this technique also adds a new layer of complexity to the images itself. With many frequency bands, researchers can prevent data in different colors to reveal more detailed structures around a black hole. These multiband images help dissolve like gas flow and Magnetic FieldPaints a more dynamic, multidimensional picture of black holes in the hole.
Finally, the fpt technique can prepare EHT not only see black holes more clearly but also always open new season in the black hole in science.
The initial knowledge of the team Published on March 26 In astronomical journal. Researchers continue to improve the full potential of EHT network and explore even high-frequency capabilities – such as 345 GHz – which can facilitate many Multiband observations.