Scientists in the laboratory have recreated a mini version of the mysterious gamma-ray bursts.
Gamma-ray bursts occur in distant galaxies and lasts from a few seconds to hours. The most striking of them is GRB 080319B was observed on 19 March 2008 and were within 30 seconds visible to the naked eye. The source of GW was in the galaxy, remote 7.5 billion light years, a record among distant objects visible in the night sky. A possible reason for the surge was the name of the release (jet) gamma rays, one of the beams which were aimed at the Ground.
For simulation of GW physicists use the Gemini laser in the Laboratory, the Rutherford-Appleton (UK). This device gives off a short-term — within a few femtoseconds (10-15 seconds) — pulse energy of 600 MeV. They were faced with a lead target with thickness from 5 to 25 millimeters. Thus formed plasma, consisting of electrons and their antiparticles — positrons.
Electron-positron beam was passed through a cell filled with helium. Using special equipment, scientists tracked the change in its physical characteristics in a neutral gaseous medium, including the spectra of electrons and positrons. Simultaneously, the generated proton beam that interacted with the plasma. This allowed to perform proton radiography electron-positron beam and to measure the strength of the magnetic field that occurs when it passes through the helium.
It turned out that the force created during the experiment, magnetic fields equal to that predicted by relevant models of gamma-ray bursts. Jets of plasma ejected supermassive black hole or a pulsar pass through the interstellar medium, which generates a long-lived magnetic field required for the emergence of a powerful flash of x-rays.
