This groundbreaking technique, designed specifically for radio images, has been published in the *Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society*, a leading peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Typically, 2D radio images provide limited insights into the 3D structure of astronomical phenomena. By transforming these images into a 3D format, scientists can gain deeper insights into the physics behind galaxies, black holes, and other cosmic features, advancing our understanding of the Universe.
The researchers focused on polarized radio light-light that vibrates in a distinct direction. This is similar to how polarized sunglasses block horizontally vibrating light to reduce glare. The team used a process called Faraday rotation, which rotates the direction of radio polarized waves based on the materials they pass through. This allowed them to estimate the distance each radio wave traveled, resulting in a 3D model of phenomena occurring millions of light-years away.
"We found that the shapes of the objects were very different from the impression that we got by just looking at them in a 2D space," said Lawrence Rudnick, Professor Emeritus in the University of Minnesota's School of Physics and Astronomy.
The new method also enabled the team to study the direction of material ejected from massive black holes, interactions with cosmic winds, and the structure of magnetic fields in space. Rudnick added, "Our technique has dramatically altered our understanding of these exotic objects. We may need to reconsider previous models on the physics of how these things work. There is no question in my mind that we will end up with lots of surprises in the future that some objects will not look like we thought in 2D."
This breakthrough will likely prompt a reexamination of past radio imagery, offering fresh insights or confirming earlier conclusions. Rudnick also anticipates the technique's application to new imagery from telescope facilities worldwide.
The research team included Craig Anderson from Australian National University, William Cotton from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Alice Pasetto from the Institute for Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Emma Alexander from the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester, and Mehrnoosh Tahani from Stanford University's Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology.
The data for this research came from the MeerKAT radio telescope array, operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Research Report:Pseudo-3D visualization of Faraday structure in polarized radio sources: methods, science use cases, and development priorities
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University of Minnesota Twin Cities College of Science and Engineering
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