Astronomers observed first radiation belt seen outside our solar system

High-resolution imaging of radio emissions from an ultracool dwarf.

MAY 16, 2023

BY
PRANJAL MEHAR



Artist's impression of an aurora and the surrounding radiation belt of the ultracool dwarf LSR J1835+3259. Credit: Chuck Carter, Melodie Kao, Heising-Simons Foundation


Astronomers have observed the first radiation belt outside our solar system using a coordinated array of 39 radio dishes from Hawaii to Germany. They even have obtained high-resolution images- showing persistent, intense radio emissions from an ultracool dwarf.

Their observations reveal the presence of a cloud of high-energy electrons trapped in the object’s powerful magnetic field, forming a double-lobed structure analogous to radio images of Jupiter’s radiation belts.

The Van Allen belts, also called Earth’s radiation belts, are donut-shaped zones of very energetic particles that the magnetic field has trapped from solar winds. The majority of the debris in Jupiter’s belts originates from Io’s volcanoes. The radiation belt astronomers have imaged in this study would be 10 million times brighter than Jupiter’s if you could put them side by side.



The first images of an extrasolar radiation belt were obtained by combining 39 radio telescopes to form a virtual telescope spanning the globe from Hawaii to Germany. (Image credit: Melodie Kao, Amy Mioduszewski)

The “northern lights” are produced when the magnetic field deflects charged particles towards the poles contact with the atmosphere.

More:
https://www.techexplorist.com/first-radiation-belt-seen-outside-solar-system/60302/