Scientists have improved a computer program that helps simulate the behavior of photons when interacting with hydrogen spilled in intergalactic space. The results have been published in the scientific journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Andrey Savelyev, associate professor of the Institute of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Information Technologies of the IKBFU and one of the study’s authors, said:
“In the Universe there are extragalactic objects such as blazars, which very intensively generate a powerful gamma-ray flux, part of photons from this stream reaches the Earth, as they say, directly, and part — are converted along the way into electrons, then again converted into photons and only then get to us.
“The problem here is that mathematical calculations say that a certain number of photons should reach the Earth, and in fact it gets much less.”
Scientists, according to Savelyev, today have two versions of why this happens. The first is that a photon, after being converted into an electron (and this, as is known, in contrast to a neutral photon, a charged particle) falls into a magnetic field, deviates from its path, and does not reach the Earth even after being transformed again into a photon.
The second version explains the behavior of particles flying to our planet not by their interaction with an electromagnetic field, but by contact with hydrogen “spilled” in intergalactic space. Savelyev said:
“Many people believe that space is completely empty and that there is nothing between the galaxies. In fact, there is a lot of hydrogen in a state of plasma, that is, in other words, very strongly heated hydrogen — the scientist explains. And our report is about how particles interact with this plasma.
“There is a special computer program that calculates models of particle behavior in intergalactic space. We can say that we improved this program by considering several possible options for the development of events in interaction with plasma.”
Cannot yet verify calculations for photons
Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to verify the calculations empirically for photons because people have not yet learned how to create extreme space conditions on Earth, but Andrey Savelyev is sure that someday this will become possible to some extent.
Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to verify the calculations empirically for photons because people have not yet learned how to create extreme space conditions on Earth. (Image: via Pixabay)
It is important to note that the results of the research, despite the fact that while they are what is called “pure science,” can theoretically be applied in practice in the future: Savelyev said:
“Plasma — the fourth state of matter (in addition to gas, liquid and solid) — is very difficult for research.
“At the same time, humanity has high hopes for it as a source of cheap and very powerful energy. And our study is a small contribution to the collection of plasma knowledge. Perhaps they will be useful in developing effective nuclear fusion.”
Provided by: Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University [Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.]
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