Astrophysicist Duncan Lorimer Explores Universe's Expansion and Fast Radio Burst Mysteries
In a significant address at the PM Museum and Library's Nehru Planetarium in New Delhi, world-renowned astrophysicist Prof Duncan Lorimer, celebrated for leading the discovery of the first Fast Radio Burst (FRB), emphasized that the universe is expanding. He projected that with new and improved telescopes emerging in the United States and Canada, scientists will uncover deeper mysteries of the cosmos.
The Phenomenon of Fast Radio Bursts
A Fast Radio Burst represents an intensely bright, millisecond-long flash of radio waves originating from deep space, often billions of light-years away. These fleeting, high-energy events release as much energy in a fraction of a second as the sun emits over several weeks, making them among the most enigmatic phenomena in astrophysics.
Discovery and Recognition
The first FRB, known as the 'Lorimer burst', was discovered by Prof Lorimer and his student David Narkevic in 2007 while analyzing archival pulsar survey data. This groundbreaking finding has earned Lorimer and his wife Maura McLaughlin the prestigious Shaw Prize, often referred to as the Nobel Prize of the East, for their pivotal role in uncovering FRBs.
Indian Researchers' Contributions
During the discussion titled 'The Brightest Pulses in the Universe', Lorimer, a fellow of the Royal Society and professor at West Virginia University, praised Indian researchers Shamil Chatterjee and Shriharsh Tendulkar. He highlighted their significant roles in identifying the host galaxy and origin of repeating Fast Radio Bursts, underscoring India's growing impact on global scientific endeavors.
Speculations on Alien Contact
When questioned about the possibility of aliens attempting to contact humans via radio frequencies, Lorimer acknowledged that some fractions of fast radio bursts might stem from unexpected phenomena. He suggested that as data accumulates with tens of thousands of signals, anonymous or alien-linked components could potentially emerge in the future, though he has not directly observed such evidence yet.
Avoiding Controversy on Interstellar Comet
Regarding the divided scientific opinions on the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which entered the Milky Way galaxy last year, Lorimer declined to comment, stating he had not followed the story closely and thus lacked an informed opinion on the matter.
Educational Outreach and Inspiration
Interacting with students, Lorimer elaborated on the origin and characteristics of neutron stars, deep holes, and radio bursts from various galaxies. Ashwani Lohani, director of PMML, emphasized the event's significance, noting it as a privilege to host Prof Lorimer and an opportunity to inspire curiosity and scientific temper among students and the public, reflecting India's enhanced engagement with international science.
