contestada

A distant observer is located at redshift 2. What is the observed wavelength of the 21 cm hyperfine transition line of hydrogen originating from the galaxy?

Respuesta :

Answer:

The observed wavelength of the line of hydrogen originating from the galaxy is 23cm.

Explanation:

The speed of the galaxies using the shifted of the spectral lines can be known by using the Doppler speed:

[tex]v = c\frac{\Delta \lambda}{\lambda_{0}}[/tex]  (1)

Where [tex]\Delta \lambda[/tex] is the wavelength shift, [tex]\lambda_{0}[/tex] is the wavelength at rest, v is the velocity of the source and c is the speed of light.

Therefore, from equation 1 it can be deduce the equation for the redshift

[tex]v = c(\frac{\lambda_{observed}-\lambda_{0}}{\lambda_{0}})[/tex]

[tex]\frac{v}{c} = \frac{\lambda_{observed}-\lambda_{0}}{\lambda_{0}}[/tex]

[tex]z = \frac{\lambda_{observed}-\lambda_{0}}{\lambda_{0}}[/tex]  (2)

Where z is the redshift.

Hence, the redshift represents this shift of the spectral lines to red part in the spectrum of a galaxy or any object which is moving away.

Then, [tex]\lambda_{observed}[/tex] can be isolated from equation 2.

[tex]\lambda_{observed} = (z \cdot \lambda_{0})+\lambda_{0}[/tex]  (3)

For this particular case [tex]\lambda_{0} = 21cm[/tex] and [tex]z = 2[/tex]

[tex]\lambda_{observed} = (2)(21cm)+21cm[/tex]  (3)

[tex]\lambda_{observed} = 23cm[/tex]  (3)

Hence, the observed wavelength of the line of hydrogen originating from the galaxy is 23cm.