India's Astrosat captures 600th mega explosion that rocked the universe

India’s Astrosat captures 600th mega explosion that rocked the universe

In an astronomical feat, India’s first multi-wavelength space telescope, AstroSat, has successfully detected its 600th Gamma-ray Burst (GRB), an event named GRB 231122B.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched AstroSat in September 2015, and since then, it has been a cornerstone in the field of astronomical research.

Gamma-ray bursts are the universe’s most powerful explosions, often associated with the creation of black holes. These bursts emit immense amounts of energy in a short span, ranging from milliseconds to several minutes, and are considered among the brightest events in the cosmos.

Understanding these bursts is crucial for astronomers as they provide insights into the most extreme environments and the fundamental physics that govern the universe.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Bombay said that AstroSat’s Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) has been instrumental in capturing these cosmic phenomena. The CZTI detector specialises in high-energy, wide-field imaging, covering an energy range from 20 keV to over 200 keV. Its ability to detect Compton scattered events also allows for the study of the polarisation of incident X-rays, adding another layer to the understanding of GRBs.

This landmark detection not only showcases the the spacecraft’s capabilities but also highlights the continued excellence of AstroSat’s performance, even eight years post-launch, surpassing its expected lifespan.

“We are proud of what AstroSat has accomplished. To build upon this success, multiple institutes have come together and proposed to build Daksha, a next-generation GRB space telescope that will be far better than any such satellite worldwide. Daksha will be sensitive enough to detect in just over a year what CZTI did in eight,” Prof. Varun Bhalerao at IIT-Bombay said.

The scientific community has widely recognised AstroSat’s contributions, with over 400 peer-reviewed research articles published based on its data.

Gaurav Waratkar, a PhD student at IIT-Bombay leading the study of GRBs with AstroSat, expressed his excitement about the daily potential for new discoveries, emphasising the privilege of being among the first to witness these ancient cosmic events.

“Coming to work every morning, I am excited to see what the universe may send my way this day. It is amazing to look at data and have the opportunity to be the first one to view these explosions that happened billions of years ago,” Gaurav told IndiaToday.in.

Prof. Dipankar Bhattacharya, the principal investigator for CZTI, remarked on the significance of the 600th GRB detection, praising the enduring performance of the instrument.

With AstroSat continuing to function satisfactorily beyond its anticipated service life, astronomers are eagerly anticipating further groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in high-energy astrophysics.