NANJING, Oct. 16 -- Chinese scientists on Monday announced observation of the "optical counterpart" of gravitational waves coming from the merger of two binary neutron stars using a survey telescope in Antarctica.
The gravitational waves were first discovered by the U.S.-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors on Aug. 17. The Chinese telescope independently observed optical signals resulting from the merger the next day, among some 70 telescopes on the ground or from space across the world, according to the Chinese Center for Antarctic Astronomy.
It was the first time humans have detected gravitational waves and the corresponding electromagnetic phenomena resulting from a binary neutron star merger.
Data exclusively collected by the Chinese detector has led to a preliminary estimate of the ejecta parameters, according to Wang Lifan, director of the center.
The merging process ejected radioactive material with more than 3,000 times the mass of the Earth at a speed of up to 30 percent the speed of light, Wang said.
A merger of black holes with an extremely strong gravitational field can not generate ejecta or electromagnetic phenomena, according to Wu Xuefeng, a researcher with the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
However, the collision of binary neutron stars is accompanied by a series of electromagnetic phenomena that are crucial to research in origins of heavy elements like platinum and gold.
"The crash of binary neutron stars is like a gigantic gold factory in the universe," said Jin Zhiping, an associate researcher with the observatory and a member of an international team that analyzed optical signals.
The host galaxy of the incident is located about 130 million light years from the Earth.
In 2017, LIGO detectors confirmed the existence of gravitational waves produced during the merger of two black holes, which were predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity 100 years ago.
So far, LIGO and its partners have discovered four cases of gravitational waves coming from mergers of two black holes.
The Chinese telescope is a catadioptric optical telescope with an entrance pupil diameter of 500 mm. Its unique location allows for continuous observations lasting longer than 24 hours during the austral winter.
China's first X-ray astronomical satellite, a Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope named Insight, also contributed to the detection.
Only two months after its launch, the satellite successfully monitored the space where the incident occurred.
Chinese scientists forecast that the next achievement in observation might be gravitational waves coming from the merger of a binary neutron star and a black hole.
2017MTV大奖公布!萌德成黑马,霉霉颗粒无收!
国内英语资讯:China national gene bank to build new research base in central China
国际英语资讯:Philippines committed to building strong, resilient ASEAN: Duterte
国内英语资讯:China launches new meteorological satellite
国际英语资讯:Five killed in shooting near school in north California
Won’t give him a pass?
冬天想恋爱,夏日想单身?这是种病!
The ground is shifting?
研究发现 过去40年间全球青少年肥胖人数增加10倍
国际英语资讯:Mays Brexit deadline will be challenged by her own MPs
体坛英语资讯:Guangdong suffers 1st loss, Shanghai sinks Xinjiang
国内英语资讯:Xis visit to deepen friendship, promote comprehensive cooperation: Lao president
养成这7个小习惯,你会更长寿噢
国内英语资讯:Spotlight: Chinese premier calls for new chapter of East Asian cooperation
国际英语资讯:Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh targeted by traffickers, exploiters: UN
国内英语资讯:Economic Watch: Chinas economy firms on quality growth, better structure
关于乘坐飞机的11个冷知识
国内英语资讯:Economic Watch: A Chinese manufacturers bittersweet bite of innovation
男生想要成绩好,妹纸扎推错不了
国内英语资讯:Chinese vice premier calls for sense of mission in poverty reduction
体坛英语资讯:Sigurdur from Iceland to coach Chinese natinoal womens soccer team
Tiffany要开咖啡馆!蒂凡尼的早餐成真了!
国内英语资讯:Macao to enhance disaster prevention, relief work next year: chief executive
美文赏析:我不同意你的观点,但我尊重你
英国游客在威尼斯被宰 天价午餐花掉近500欧
汽水还能有蛋糕味?百事可乐就这么干了
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Easier administrative approval benefits Chinese, foreign enterprises
Girls Should Have Faith 女孩要自信
体坛英语资讯:Nadal pulls out of ATP Finals after shock defeat to Goffin
研究发现 情绪会在朋友圈里传染