BR 0331-1622, BR 0353-3820, BR 0418-5723
BR 0424-2209, PSS 0747+4434, PSS 1058+1245
BR 0424-2209, PSS 0747+4434, PSS 1058+1245
A new study combining data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and Fermi Gamma-ray Telescope, and the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array (VERITAS) in Arizona is helping scientists set limits on the quantum nature of space-time on extremely tiny scales, as explained in our latest press release.
Certain aspects of quantum mechanics predict that space-time - the
three dimensions of space plus time -- would not be smooth on the scale
of about ten times a billionth of a trillionth of the diameter of a hydrogen atom's nucleus. They refer to the structure that may exist at this extremely small size as "space-time foam." This artist's illustration
depicts how the foamy structure of space-time may appear, showing tiny
bubbles quadrillions of times smaller than the nucleus of an atom that
are constantly fluctuating and last for only infinitesimal fractions of a
second.
Because space-time foam is so small, it is impossible to observe it
directly. However, depending on what model of space-time is used, light
that has traveled over great cosmic distances may be affected by the
unseen foam in ways that scientists can analyze. More specifically, some
models predict that the accumulation of distance uncertainties for
light traveling across billions of light years
would cause the image quality to degrade so much that the objects would
become undetectable. The wavelength where the image disappears should
depend on the model of space-time foam used.
The researchers used observations of X-rays and gamma-rays from very distant quasars - luminous sources produced by matter falling towards supermassive black holes
- to test models of the smoothness and structure of space-time.
Chandra's X-ray detection of six quasars, shown in the upper part of the
graphic, at distances of billions of light years, rules out one model,
according to which photons diffuse randomly through space-time foam in a
manner similar to light diffusing through fog. Detections of distant
quasars at shorter, gamma-ray wavelengths with Fermi and even shorter
wavelengths with VERITAS demonstrate that a second, so-called
holographic model with less diffusion does not work.
These results appeared in the May 20th issue of The Astrophysical Journal and are available online.
The authors of this study are Eric Perlman (Florida Institute of
Technology), Saul Rappaport (Massachusetts Institute of Technology),
Wayne Christensen (University of North Carolina), Y. Jack Ng (University
of North Carolina), John DeVore (Visidyne), and David Pooley (Sam
Houston State University).
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages
the Chandra program for the agency's Science Mission Directorate in
Washington. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, controls Chandra's science and flight operations.
Fast Facts for BR 0331-1622:
Scale: Image is 1 arcmin across. (about 1.34 million light years)
Category: Quasars & Active Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000) RA 03h 34m 13.40s | Dec -16° 12' 04.80"
Constellation: Eridanus
Observation Dates: 17 Jun 2003
Observation Time: 1 hours 23 min
Obs. IDs: 4064
Instrument: ACIS
References: Perlman, E. et al, 2015, ApJ, 805, 10; arXiv:1411.7262
Color Code: X-ray: Blue Distance Estimate About 12.32 billion light years (z=4.36)
Fast Facts for BR 0353-3820:
Scale Image is 1 arcmin across. (about 1.31 million light years)
Category: Quasars & Active Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000): RA 03h 55m 04.90s | Dec -38° 11' 42.30"
Constellation: Eridanus
Observation Dates: 10 Sep 2003
Observation Time: 1 hours 7 min
Obs. IDs 4065
Instrument: ACIS
References: Perlman, E. et al, 2015, ApJ, 805, 10; arXiv:1411.7262
Color Code: X-ray: Blue
Distance Estimate: About 12.39 billion light years (z=4.55)
Fast Facts for BR 0418-5723:
Scale: Image is 1 arcmin across. (about 1.33 million light years)
Category: Quasars & Active Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000): RA 04h 19m 50.90s | Dec -57° 16' 13.10"
Constellation: Reticulum
Observation Dates: 17 Jun 2004
Observation Time: 1 hours 7 min
Obs. IDs: 4066
Instrument: ACIS
References: Perlman, E. et al, 2015, ApJ, 805, 10; arXiv:1411.7262
Color Code: X-ray: Blue
Distance Estimate: About 12.35 billion light years (z=4.46)
Fast Facts for BR 0424-2209:
Image is 1 arcmin across. (about 1.34 million light years)
Category: Quasars & Active Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000): RA 04h 26m 10.30s | Dec -29° 00' 28.00"
Constellation: Eridanus
Observation Dates: 14 Dec 2002
Observation Time: 24 hours 23 min (1 day 23 min)
Obs. IDs: 4067
Instrument: ACIS
References: Perlman, E. et al, 2015, ApJ, 805, 10; arXiv:1411.7262
Color Code: X-ray: Blue
Distance Estimate: About 12.3 billion light years (z=4.32)
Fast Facts for PSS 0747+4434:
Scale: Image is 1 arcmin across. (about 1.33 million light years)
Category: Quasars & Active Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000): RA 07h 47m 49.70s | Dec +44° 34' 20.10"
Constellation: Lynx
Observation Dates: 17 Dec 2002
Observation Time: 24 hours 23 min (1 day 23 min)
Obs. IDs: 4068
Instrument: ACIS
References: Perlman, E. et al, 2015, ApJ, 805, 10; arXiv:1411.7262
Color Code: X-ray: Blue
Distance Estimate: About 12.34 billion light yeras (z=4.43)
Fast Facts for PSS 1058+1245:
Scale Image is 1 arcmin across. (about 1.34 million light years)
Category: Quasars & Active Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000): RA 10h 58m 58.40s | Dec +12° 45' 54.80"
Constellation: Leo
Observation Dates: 02 Mar 2003
Observation Time: 24 hours 23 min (1 day 23 min)
Obs. IDs: 4069
Instrument: ACIS
References: Perlman, E. et al, 2015, ApJ, 805, 10; arXiv:1411.7262
Color Code: X-ray: Blue
Distance Estimate: About 12.3 billion light years (z=4.33)
