What To Know
- Identified as a compact symmetric object (CSO) emitting gamma rays, DA 362 intrigues astronomers with its rarity and unique properties.
- In these objects, rotating gas and dust are drawn into the black hole, releasing massive amounts of energy in the form of jets.
- DA 362 is also remarkably bright in gamma rays, surpassing the three other known CSO emitters in this class.
Identified as a compact symmetric object (CSO) emitting gamma rays, DA 362 intrigues astronomers with its rarity and unique properties. Indian astronomers have conducted an in-depth study of this object, shedding new light on its nature and characteristics.
compact symmetric objects: a simplified introduction
Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are galaxies with extremely bright cores powered by supermassive black holes. In these objects, rotating gas and dust are drawn into the black hole, releasing massive amounts of energy in the form of jets. These jets can emit across frequency ranges from radio waves to gamma rays.
Compact symmetric objects (CSOs) are essentially young active galactic nuclei characterized by their small size, less than 3,300 light-years. These objects have a symmetrical radio morphology and are considered to be in the early stages of their evolution. Their kinematic age is generally less than a few thousand years, making them valuable clues for understanding galaxy youth. However, CSOs remain rare and understudied, with only four known to emit gamma rays.
what is DA 362?
DA 362, also known as B2 1413+34, was initially classified as an uncertain type blazar candidate. It is associated with a gamma-ray source designated as 4FGL J1416.0+3443. Utilizing data collected by NASA’s Fermi-LAT gamma-ray space telescope and the Swift satellite, researchers confirmed that DA 362 was indeed a true CSO and discovered its unique properties.
The object exhibits small-scale bipolar radio emission with jets whose separation speed is subluminal, meaning slower than the speed of light. This confirms the compact and symmetric nature of this object, a typical characteristic of CSOs. DA 362 is also remarkably bright in gamma rays, surpassing the three other known CSO emitters in this class.
Furthermore, data analysis shows that DA 362 is extremely faint in the optical band which suggests that its core might be obscured by interstellar dust. This phenomenon makes studying this object more complex and requires additional observations with instruments capable of penetrating this dust.
major findings
The study conducted by the Indian team based on long-term data from the Fermi-LAT space telescope has highlighted fascinating aspects of DA 362.
- Astronomers observed its gamma-ray activity. During the first 12 years of observation between 2008 and 2020, DA 362 remained mostly calm with few notable emissions; however, sporadic outbursts were detected suggesting these emissions mainly originate from the object’s core or jets rather than its radio lobes.
- Regarding radio properties: DA 362 stands out for its low-amplitude bipolar emission and relatively slow jets confirming its status as an evolving young compact symmetric object.
- In terms of its gamma spectrum: DA 362 proves particularly luminous surpassing all other identified CSO gamma-ray emitters so far; additionally having a steeper gamma spectrum which could provide crucial clues about origin/nature behind such energetic emissions.
These observations suggest that DA 362 finds itself at a critical stage where physical mechanisms fueling its gamma activity become especially effective playing key role towards understanding evolution within young active nuclei/galactic jets alike.
mysteries surrounding DA 362
Despite these advances yet many questions remain surrounding DA-312—for instance—why does it’s core appear obscured? The prevailing hypothesis posits interstellar dust plays part but origin/distribution remain unresolved mysteries altogether while astronomers seek explanations why compared against others similar only higher levels occur?
- This ties back into nature/environmental factors possibly even unknown processes themselves contributing towards elevated activities witnessed today among other things too!
implications for astronomy
The discovery/in-depth examination opens up exciting avenues exploring further insights into evolutionary trajectories experienced across different formations involving both energetic jets plus respective nuclei counterparts involved alongside them henceforth moving forward indefinitely beyond what we currently understand now presently ongoing research attempts deciphering just how much potential lies ahead concerning future endeavors likewise!
