Another mysterious corner of the universe approached the human eye. An international team of scientists has created a new type of advanced technology and successfully tested it in practice, The Astrophysical Journal Letters reports. Through this innovative method, ground telescopes were able to record such clear and precise images of the star's disk for the first time in history.
At the center of the discovery is a unique device called a "photon lantern." It separates the wavefronts of rays coming from stars, dividing each into separate channels. This process allows for the preservation of the smallest details that are lost in traditional photography. When the resulting data were combined, scientists managed to restore an unprecedentedly clear image of the disk around a nearby star.
Usually, to achieve this level of visibility, astronomers combine data from multiple telescopes. But this time the team received all the results through only one telescope - the 8-meter Subaru, located in Hawaii. The FIRST-PL device, developed in collaboration with the Paris Observatory and the University of Hawaii, was installed on this telescope.
The photon lantern was created by scientists from the University of Sydney and the University of Central Florida. It divides starlight into many channels, which is similar to dividing a musical chord into notes. Light turns into colors in each "note," and light oscillations that traditional cameras cannot detect are detected.
According to Yu Zhong Kim, the co-author of the study, the new method provided five times higher accuracy compared to previous technologies. This result was obtained by careful analysis of the shape of light waves moving inside the optical fiber.
Scientists observed the star "Beta Canis Minoris," located approximately 162 light-years away. Around it is a disk of hydrogen, indicating the possibility of the formation of a new planet. With the help of new technology, it was discovered for the first time that this disk is asymmetric - one part is brighter and denser than the other.
As Professor of Physics and Astronomy Michael Fitzgerald noted, the photon lantern ushered in a new era in observational astronomy. Scientists reported achieving even higher accuracy than the diffraction limit, which is considered the natural limit of light.
According to researchers, this method will allow studying planetary disks, exoplanets, and active galaxy nuclei at a completely new level in the future. This will be a big step towards understanding not only the structure of the Universe, but also the still undiscovered cosmic properties.
As a reminder, it was previously reported that traces of an unknown asteroid were found in Australia. At that time, researchers were able to identify a new cosmic material formed from meteor shocks by analyzing the composition of natural glass - tectites.
Scientists emphasize: "The Photon Lantern will elevate not only the universe but also humanity's ability to understand it to a new level."
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