Type Ia supernovae have a crucial role in measuring cosmic distances. They were used to discover the accelerating expansion of the universe, which led to a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2011. An international research team led by Stockholm University discovered an unusual type of such supernova.
The supernova, named SN Zwicky, stands out for its exceptional brightness and the splitting of light rays into many images. This is a rare phenomenon predicted by Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
– SN Zwicky’s discovery not only shows the remarkable possibilities offered by current astronomical instruments, but also means a major advance in the work on understanding the fundamental forces that shape the universe, says researcher Ariel Jobar, who leads the project at Stockholm University.
Astronomical objects are like cosmic magnifying lenses
The observed effect, which produces multiple images of the same source, is caused by the gravitational field of a foreground galaxy acting as a gravitational lens.
Under very special circumstances, large astronomical objects act as cosmic magnifying glasses. These magnifiers also create multiple paths of light that can be seen at different points in the sky.
Observing multiple images not only reveals details of the lenticular supernova, but also provides a unique opportunity to explore the properties of the foreground galaxy that cause light diffraction.
Under unusual circumstances, large astronomical objects act as cosmic magnifying glasses. These magnifiers also create multiple paths of light that can be seen at different points in the sky. Illustration: Niki Arendsi
Dark Energy Studies
The discovery provides an opportunity for astronomers to learn more about the innermost, densest parts of galaxies, where dark matter resides. Lensing supernovae are also a tool with great potential for improving models describing the expansion of the universe.
Zwicky’s extreme magnification provides an unprecedented opportunity to study the properties of distant explosions from Type Ia supernovae, which we use to explore the nature of dark energy, says researcher Joel Johansson at Stockholm University.
Scientific study:
Revealing a group of gravitationally lensing galaxies using the SN Zwicky standard magnifying candleAnd natural astronomy.
communication:
Ariel Jobar, Researcher and Director of the Oskar Klein Center at Stockholm University, [email protected]
Joel Johansson, researcher at Stockholm University, [email protected]
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