In a report by Carnegie Science, the work of postdoctoral fellow Stella Ocker, who is conducting research on the space between stars, is highlighted. Ocker, based at the Carnegie Institution for Science’s Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (DTM), is exploring the interstellar medium (ISM), an area filled with gas, dust, and cosmic rays, which has a significant influence on the life cycle of stars and galaxies.
The ISM is a complex and dynamic environment that is constantly changing due to the birth and death of stars. Ocker’s research primarily focuses on understanding the characteristics and behavior of pulsars, which are rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation. These pulsars can serve as tools to probe the ISM because their signals can be affected by the ISM’s properties.
Ocker uses radio telescopes to observe the signals from pulsars. She uses the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) and the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) which offer high precision measurements to study the ISM. Her work is part of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) project, a collaboration that aims to detect and understand gravitational waves using pulsars.
One of the most significant findings of Ocker’s research is the discovery of a new type of phenomenon known as “structured” or “patchy” scintillation. This phenomenon occurs when the signals from pulsars are affected by the ISM, leading to changes in the intensity and frequency of the signals. This discovery has helped to provide a more detailed understanding of the ISM and its effects on pulsar signals.
Ocker’s research is not only contributing to our understanding of the universe but also has implications for the detection of gravitational waves. These waves, predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity, are ripples in space-time caused by violent and energetic processes in the Universe, like the collisions of black holes. Detecting these waves can provide new insights into the nature of gravity and the evolution of galaxies.
Ocker’s work serves as an example of how young researchers are pushing the boundaries in the field of astronomy and astrophysics. Her research has the potential to open up new avenues in the study of the universe, contributing to our understanding of its vast and complex nature.