Space 'Microphones' May Unravel the Mystery of High-Powered Gamma-Ray Bursts

Scientists are hoping to learn a bit more about the origins of gamma-ray bursts using some new equipment: space "microphones." The new findings could help researchers better understand how these bursts form and may even shed light on the origins of the universe.

The "microphones" in question are the ultra-sensitive LIGO and Virgo detectors, which are scheduled to be switched on in 2015. Currently, the scientists are trying to work out the possible sounds that the researchers might expect to hear recorded by these microphones. This, in turn, may help them better prepare for and interpret the data they receive.

Currently, the scientists are exploring the potential of seeing and hearing events known as gamma-ray bursts. These highly energetic bursts of hard radiation have been seen by gamma-ray satellites, but the exact origins of these flashes of gamma-rays are unknown.

"By picking up the gravitational waves associated with these events, we will be able to access precious information that was previously hidden, such as whether the collision of a star and a black hole has ignited the burst and roughly how massive these objects were before the impact," said Frank Ohme, one of the researchers, in a news release.

The researchers already have theories as to what could be producing gamma-ray bursts. One possible scenario involves a neutron star, which is the most compact star in the universe, being ripped apart by a black hole while orbiting it. The remaining matter would be accelerated so much that it could cause the energy bursts we observe today.

"In some cases, by observing both electro-magnetic and gravitational wave signatures of the same event, we will be able to better understand the behavior of material in the highest density region we know in our universe, so that we will start to rule out various theoretical models that have been proposed but cannot be tested otherwise," said Francesco Pannarale, one of the researchers.

The findings are published in the journal Physical Review Letters.