Andrew Yee[_1_]
January 16th 08, 11:34 PM
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, New York
Contact: Gabrielle DeMarco
Phone: (518) 276-6542
For Immediate Release: January 10, 2008
Physicists Uncover New Solution for Cosmic Collisions
Troy, N.Y. -- It turns out that our math teachers were right: being able to
solve problems without a calculator does come in handy in the "real" world.
Two theoretical physicists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have used
what they call "pen-and-paper math" to describe the motion of interstellar
shock waves -- violent events associated with the birth of stars and
planets.
The findings, published recently in the Monthly Notices of the Royal
Astronomical Society, could provide astronomers with important information
on the history of the solar system, the formation of stars, and the creation
of chemicals that may have formed the basis for planets and even life on
Earth.
"Shock waves can teach us valuable information about the history of our
solar system," said Wayne Roberge, lead author and professor of physics,
applied physics, and astronomy at Rensselaer. "If we can understand shock
waves -- how they move, what leads to their formation, their temperature --
we can begin to understand where we came from and what our galaxy went
through five billion years ago."
The mathematical solution developed by Roberge and his colleague, adjunct
professor Glenn Ciolek, reveals the force and movement of shock waves in
plasma, the neutral and charged matter that makes up the dilute "air" of
space. Unlike many previous studies of its kind, the researchers focused
specifically on shock waves in plasma, which move matter in very different
ways than the uncharged air on Earth.
According to the researchers, the findings could influence the success of
research conducted by NASA's upcoming mission, the Stratospheric Observatory
for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft with an
infrared telescope expected to begin test flights in the coming months.
Roberge noted that the findings could also be important for studies using
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope (the infrared sister of the Hubble
Telescope).
"Astronomers are now venturing into infrared telescopes, which allows you to
look deeper into space," Roberge said. "But because they can only detect
heat, the search for chemicals in deep space using infrared technology is
greatly hindered in cold interstellar space." Super-hot shock waves are like
fiery arrows in the sky when viewed through an infrared telescope, pointing
out the origins and destination of chemicals throughout the universe,
Roberge said.
"Our mathematical solution will help point astronomers in the right
direction when they look at shock waves," he said. "It lets them know what
they should discover. We hope the actual space images developed in the
coming months and years prove our calculations to be correct."
As shock waves travel, they heat and condense interstellar plasma, forming
new chemical compounds through intense heat and pressure. The motion of
shock waves also distributes the chemical products around the galaxy. On
Earth, shock waves are commonly associated with supersonic aircraft and
explosions. In space, shock waves are commonly associated with the birth or
death of a star.
When stars are born, they often emit jets of matter moving at hundreds of
thousands of miles per hour. The impact of these jets onto surrounding
material creates an extreme and sudden disturbance. This material does not
have time to react to the sudden pile-up of energy and mass. Shock waves
lash out into the surrounding plasma to expel the sudden force. These shock
waves spread material through space, potentially "seeding" new solar systems
with chemicals that may be important for life.
"Now that we understand how fast and far these waves move in space, we can
begin to understand how chemicals, including chemicals necessary for life,
can be formed by shock waves and spread around the universe to form new
stars, planets, and life," Roberge said.
The research was funded by the New York Center for Studies on the Origins of
Life, which was supported by a grant from NASA.
About Rensselaer
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1824, is the nation's oldest
technological university. The university offers bachelor's, master's, and
doctoral degrees in engineering, the sciences, information technology,
architecture, management, and the humanities and social sciences. Institute
programs serve undergraduates, graduate students, and working professionals
around the world. Rensselaer faculty are known for pre-eminence in research
conducted in a wide range of fields, with particular emphasis in
biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, and the media arts
and technology. The Institute is well known for its success in the transfer
of technology from the laboratory to the marketplace so that new discoveries
and inventions benefit human life, protect the environment, and strengthen
economic development.
Troy, New York
Contact: Gabrielle DeMarco
Phone: (518) 276-6542
For Immediate Release: January 10, 2008
Physicists Uncover New Solution for Cosmic Collisions
Troy, N.Y. -- It turns out that our math teachers were right: being able to
solve problems without a calculator does come in handy in the "real" world.
Two theoretical physicists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have used
what they call "pen-and-paper math" to describe the motion of interstellar
shock waves -- violent events associated with the birth of stars and
planets.
The findings, published recently in the Monthly Notices of the Royal
Astronomical Society, could provide astronomers with important information
on the history of the solar system, the formation of stars, and the creation
of chemicals that may have formed the basis for planets and even life on
Earth.
"Shock waves can teach us valuable information about the history of our
solar system," said Wayne Roberge, lead author and professor of physics,
applied physics, and astronomy at Rensselaer. "If we can understand shock
waves -- how they move, what leads to their formation, their temperature --
we can begin to understand where we came from and what our galaxy went
through five billion years ago."
The mathematical solution developed by Roberge and his colleague, adjunct
professor Glenn Ciolek, reveals the force and movement of shock waves in
plasma, the neutral and charged matter that makes up the dilute "air" of
space. Unlike many previous studies of its kind, the researchers focused
specifically on shock waves in plasma, which move matter in very different
ways than the uncharged air on Earth.
According to the researchers, the findings could influence the success of
research conducted by NASA's upcoming mission, the Stratospheric Observatory
for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft with an
infrared telescope expected to begin test flights in the coming months.
Roberge noted that the findings could also be important for studies using
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope (the infrared sister of the Hubble
Telescope).
"Astronomers are now venturing into infrared telescopes, which allows you to
look deeper into space," Roberge said. "But because they can only detect
heat, the search for chemicals in deep space using infrared technology is
greatly hindered in cold interstellar space." Super-hot shock waves are like
fiery arrows in the sky when viewed through an infrared telescope, pointing
out the origins and destination of chemicals throughout the universe,
Roberge said.
"Our mathematical solution will help point astronomers in the right
direction when they look at shock waves," he said. "It lets them know what
they should discover. We hope the actual space images developed in the
coming months and years prove our calculations to be correct."
As shock waves travel, they heat and condense interstellar plasma, forming
new chemical compounds through intense heat and pressure. The motion of
shock waves also distributes the chemical products around the galaxy. On
Earth, shock waves are commonly associated with supersonic aircraft and
explosions. In space, shock waves are commonly associated with the birth or
death of a star.
When stars are born, they often emit jets of matter moving at hundreds of
thousands of miles per hour. The impact of these jets onto surrounding
material creates an extreme and sudden disturbance. This material does not
have time to react to the sudden pile-up of energy and mass. Shock waves
lash out into the surrounding plasma to expel the sudden force. These shock
waves spread material through space, potentially "seeding" new solar systems
with chemicals that may be important for life.
"Now that we understand how fast and far these waves move in space, we can
begin to understand how chemicals, including chemicals necessary for life,
can be formed by shock waves and spread around the universe to form new
stars, planets, and life," Roberge said.
The research was funded by the New York Center for Studies on the Origins of
Life, which was supported by a grant from NASA.
About Rensselaer
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1824, is the nation's oldest
technological university. The university offers bachelor's, master's, and
doctoral degrees in engineering, the sciences, information technology,
architecture, management, and the humanities and social sciences. Institute
programs serve undergraduates, graduate students, and working professionals
around the world. Rensselaer faculty are known for pre-eminence in research
conducted in a wide range of fields, with particular emphasis in
biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, and the media arts
and technology. The Institute is well known for its success in the transfer
of technology from the laboratory to the marketplace so that new discoveries
and inventions benefit human life, protect the environment, and strengthen
economic development.