Medieval alchemists failed to produce gold, with Einstein's telescope intended to help monitor the birth of gold in space.
Gold was once created by the collision of two neutron stars and came to Earth. With the help of Einstein's telescope, we may be able to watch the formation of gold in the future.
Photo: Panther Media/Anton Matyukha
In the Middle Ages, many alchemists tried unsuccessfully to convert base metals into silver and gold. Interestingly, this research led to the invention of Meissen porcelain. But how did gold actually appear on Earth? The answer lies in space. In the future, a new telescope will enable the observation of live cosmic events that produce gold.
Neutron star collision produces gold
In the summer of 2017, astronomers witnessed an amazing day. On August 17, three gravitational wave detectors recorded a new signal. Hundreds of telescopes around the world immediately turned their lenses towards the suspected place of origin and actually detected a bright celestial body – a supernova. For the first time, it has become possible to detect the collision of two neutron stars as a gravitational wave and optically.
Neutron stars are fascinating objects in the universe. It consists of burned out stars that have lost their brightness. Although it weighs only slightly more than our Sun, it has shrunk to less than 20 kilometers in diameter. The collision of such stars is so powerful that atomic nuclei are torn apart and heavy elements such as gold are formed.
“Compared to the mass of neutron stars, only a small amount of gold is produced – about a few Moon masses,” explains Professor Achim Stahl from RWTH Aachen University with a smile. “But research suggests that most of the gold in the universe was created in such giant explosions.” So the gold ring on our finger has a Hungarian history.
This is how gold arrived on Earth: after the merger of neutron stars, the precious metal became part of a huge molecular cloud of gas and dust from which our solar system emerged billions of years ago. When the Earth was formed, these precious elements were already present. They belong to the highly iron-loving elements (HSEs), which have a strong affinity for iron. In addition to gold, this group also includes iridium, platinum, osmium, palladium, rhenium, rhodium and ruthenium.
Can gold also be produced artificially?
In the Middle Ages it was impossible to produce gold artificially. As we learned, it takes enormous forces to be released when two neutron stars collide. But today, the idea of producing artificial gold is no longer purely utopian. There are now different methods that have been used successfully. Here are two methods that can enable the production of synthetic gold:
- Gold production by bacteria: Australian scientists discovered that some bacteria are called Cupriavidus metalliduransHe lives on gold grains. These bacteria can convert toxic gold compounds to protect themselves from the poison. By doing so, they trigger biochemical processes and deposit gold nanoparticles on the grains. However, it takes about 1,000 bacteria to biologically produce a small amount of gold.
- Irradiation in a nuclear reactor or particle accelerator: Researchers simulate a supernova by irradiating platinum or mercury in a nuclear reactor. However, this process, known as gold manufacturing, is not currently profitable.
Current research shows that most methods for producing gold industrially have not yet been adequately researched. The tests are very complex and lead to high costs. In addition, producing small amounts of gold requires a huge amount of energy. None of the previous methods are economical or profitable.
Can we see how gold is manufactured in the future?
We could soon see new gold being produced more frequently, as a new telescope to measure gravitational waves is just getting started. These waves, similar to sound waves in space, arise as a result of collisions between black holes or neutron stars. The future Einstein Telescope will use the latest laser technology for this purpose. The border triangle comprising Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands is being discussed as a possible location.
For centuries, astronomy has relied on observing visible radiation. With the understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum, radio waves and other methods have greatly expanded our knowledge.
More than a hundred years ago, Albert Einstein postulated the existence of waves independent of the electromagnetic spectrum in his theory of general relativity. These gravitational waves, similar to sound waves, should minimally move test samples over large distances. On Earth, these movements are so small that they are smaller than the diameter of an atom. However, it was possible to measure these gravitational waves, ushering in a new era for astronomers.
This is achieved using so-called laser interferometers. These devices have arms with mirrors at the ends. The laser beam is sent to the interferometer and is split down the middle at the beam splitter. The rays extend to the end of the arm mirrors and return again. When the mirror moves, the transit time of the laser beam changes to a minimum. This change is measured by comparing the beam from the affected mirror with the beam from the other arm, where the mirror remains stationary.
The Einstein Telescope will be built approximately 250 meters underground. Using interferometers in three tunnels, each ten kilometers long, he aims to measure black hole collisions in the early universe.
Photo: Nev
The Einstein telescope allows direct transmission of cosmic events
The first attempts to measure gravitational waves began as early as the 1960s. But only the second generation of laser meters has achieved the necessary accuracy and has now detected about 100 collisions of black holes or neutron stars. The Einstein Telescope now marks the beginning of the third generation of gravitational wave detectors.
The planned Einstein Telescope consists of three nested detectors, each including two laser interferometers with 10-kilometre-long arms. In order to reduce disruptive effects, the observatory will be built 250 meters underground.
Researchers are already thinking about the future: “The Einstein Telescope will work with an innovative new generation of observatories in the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio to gamma rays. “We call this multi-messenger astronomy,” explains Professor Stahl. “In addition to the 'ears' of gravitational waves, We also have “eyes” that detect different signals. Together, they provide a live broadcast of cosmic events that no one has ever seen before.
Until now, you couldn't see the sky unless you were lucky and hoped to see a brief flash of lightning. In the future, gravitational wave detectors will continuously “listen” and calculate the original area when the signal is received. Optical telescopes can then be pointed at them, similar to the neutron star collision in the summer of 2017. These systematic measurements promise new insights into the early universe and the collisions that produced all the elements heavier than iron, including gold.
Global cooperation
A large team is already working on the Einstein Telescope in different locations. In Aachen, in addition to RWTH Aachen University, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT is also involved, where new lasers necessary for the planned measurements are being developed. At the same time, the concept of a third-generation detector called Cosmic Explorer is being developed in the USA, which together with the Einstein Telescope will form a global detector network.
Site selection studies are currently underway, with a decision expected in 2024. The focus is on two potential sites: Sardinia and the Origgio Meuse-Rhine in the border triangle of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The evaluation takes into account the feasibility of construction and the effect of the local environment on detector sensitivity and operation.
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