If it is confirmed that scientists have managed to detect this radio signal, it would be the first time in the history of astronomy that we achieved this milestone directly from a planet beyond our solar system. Before we make interplanetary conclusions, let’s clarify that this is not a sign of extraterrestrial intelligence, but it is important in our search for life beyond Earth.
The team, led by Cornell University postdoctoral researcher Jake D. Turner, Philippe Zarka from the Observatoire de Paris and Jean-Mathias Griessmeier from the Université d’Orléans has published their study in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics in which they state that By monitoring the cosmos with a set of radio telescopes, they managed to detect radio bursts emanating from the constellation Boötes, which could be the first radio emission ever collected from a planet beyond our solar system.
“We present one of the first radio spots for an exoplanet to be detected,” continues Turner . “The signal is from the Tau Boötis system, which contains a binary star and an exoplanet. We defend an emission from the planet itself. Based on the strength and polarization of the radio signal and the planet’s magnetic field, it is compatible with theoretical predictions “. “If confirmed by follow-up observations, this radio detection opens a new window on exoplanets, giving us a new way to examine alien worlds that are tens of light-years away,” explains Ray Jayawardhana, professor of astronomy and Turner’s advisor. .
We thus focus on Tau Bootis, the fourth brightest star in the constellation Bootes, which is about 51 light-years distant from Earth. It has a spectral classification of type F and has a great resemblance to the Sun; although somewhat brighter and more massive. The system also has Tau Bootis b, one of the first exoplanets to be discovered (back in 1996).
According to experts, the circularly polarized nature of the signal, the lack of flare events at Tau Boötis A, and the known characteristics of the planet make it much more likely that the signal came from the planet rather than the star. If so, it indicates a very strong magnetic field being bombarded by the strong stellar wind from Tau Boötis A.
Using the LOFAR ( Low Frequency Array ) radio telescope in the Netherlands, they studied Jupiter’s radio emissions and scaled that data for a planet 40-100 light-years away, hoping to know what to look for. They studied Upsilon Andromedae, and the 55 Cancri system as potential candidates, but only Tau Boötes showed remarkable radio emissions in the planet’s magnetic field.
Some uncertainty
Be that as it may, experts emphasize that the weakness of the signal means that confirmation is required . However, if this is successful, “this observation opens a new window on exoplanets, giving us a new way of examining alien worlds that are tens of light years away.”
Girard, R. Jayawardhana, L. Lamy, J.D. Nichols, I. Pater. The search for radio emission from the exoplanetary systems 55 Cancri, upsilon Andromedae, and tau Boötis using LOFAR beam-formed observations. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2020; DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201937201
