A possible explanation about some puzzling aspects of quasars is proposed. Moreover, using the red shifts of spectral lines picture, a simple method to calculate Hubble’s constant is presented.
Quasars were originally discovered as intense sources of radio emission. A quasar is by definition a starlike body with a large red shift. Such property is characteristic of quasars and gives them their mysterious nature. By 1974, the spectra of over two hundred quasars had been analyzed, and all of them had very large red shifts. The simplest way to explain the quasars’ red shifts is to assume that they are extremely distant bodies that follow Hubble’s law; in such a way that they are the most distant objects known. Moreover [
If some results of Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity [
This very important relativistic result shows, in particular, that the total energy of a free body does not go to zero for v = 0 but rather takes on a finite value.
where
On the other hand, there is another relativistic transformation equation for the volume of the material bodies. Since the transverse dimensions do not change because of the motion, the volume V of a body decreases according to the following formula.
where Vo is the proper volume of the body. An examination of the Equations (1) and (3) shows that when v → c, E → ¥; and V → 0. Thus as the velocity of a body, as a quasar, increases toward the velocity of light in the empty space, the quasars’ total energy increases toward infinity and its volume or size decreases toward zero. Since it is absurd for any quasar with finite proper mass mo to have infinite energy, and at the same time volume zero, it must conclude that it is impossible for any quasar to move with the light velocity in vacuum. Nevertheless, the relativistic transformation Equations (1) and (3) show that in one case an increase of the total energy, and in the other case a decrease in the size of quasars are produced when their velocity v goes toward c, in such a way that taking into account their great red shifts; those conclusions are enough to explain the quasars’ large luminosity, and at the same time its small size; as it is easy to see in the following graphics (see
The relativistic effect over the total energy emission, and the size of the quasars, apparently, acts as a kind of lens: In fact, according to the formula (3) the volume V decreases when the quasar’s velocity v increases toward c. At the same time the quasar’s total energy, and also its mass, increases toward infinity when v → c.
On the other hand, it is well known from Optics that the ratio of the image size q, to the object size p is what is called the magnification M; so that, M = q/p. According to the relativistic transformation Equation (3), it could be considered that V is the volume image, and Vo is the volume object; in such a way that
Since v < c always, M < 1; and we have that V < Vo always. That means that the effect of the increasingly velocity of recession v is to diminish the size of the volume image. On the other hand, from the other relativistic transformation equation; that is to say, the Equation (1); E will be the total energy image, and Eo = moc2 the total energy object; and then.
Since M < 1, M−1 > 1 always, so that, the increasingly velocity of recession v produces in this case, an effect of magnification; in such a way the total energy image E is always greater than the total energy object Eo.
Because of the enormous velocities of recession of the quasars, and also due to the relativistic effect, the image of the total energy emitted, appears amplified, and at the same time, and because of the same reasons, the image of the size appears diminished.
The red shift of a quasar is usually denoted by the letter z; that is to say
where ∆l is the shift in wavelength of a spectral line, and l is the wavelength that that line had when it left the quasar. Quasar red shifts range from relatively small numbers, like 0.158 for 3C 273, to large, like 3.53 for OQ 172, the most distant quasar known at this time. The red shifts can also be expressed as a velocity by means of the Doppler shift formula. However, if the velocity is small compared to the velocity of light, the following simple form of that formula is normally used.
where v is the velocity, and c the velocity of light. Given that the quasars have very large red shifts; showing that these objects are moving at relativistic recession velocities; it is necessary to use the exact formula for the relativistic Doppler shift [
From this equation, one gets that
where z is the red shift measured from the spectra.
Let
be, the relativistic red shift corresponding to a velocity of recession v, which always is small compared to the velocity of light in the empty space.
According to the evolutionary phenomenon called the Expansion of the Universe [
where H Hubble’s constant. Hence, substituting (10) in (11), the following result is obtained
In this case, it is possible to compare any couples of quasars, and consider one of them as a measure unit; in such a way that
where Zo and ro, are the relativistic redshift and the distance, respectively, of the measure unit; as long as, Z1 and r1 are the relativistic red shift and the distance of the other quasar. Thus, to calculate extragalactic distances, only one need the Equation (9) to obtain the relativistic red shifts from the red shifts measured directly from the respective spectra, and then, the following relationship can be used
Although is not possible to use the local group of galaxies for measuring the Hubble constant; because of a such a distances their random velocities may interfere with the motion because of to the Expansion of the Universe, can still be used as a previous step to obtain the data for the measure unit. As it is well known, the nearest large cluster of galaxies is the Virgo Cluster; 23.9 Megaparsecs distant, and according to the red shift measured from its spectrum, the velocity of recession of that cluster is equal to 1200 km∙sec−1. Given that this velocity is small compared to the velocity of light, the Equation (7) is used to obtain that z = 0.4 × 10−2. On the other hand, the red shift obtained directly from the spectrum of the quasar 3C 273 is z = 0.158; so that, from the Equation (9), it is easy to calculate the following relativistic redshift
Let’s consider the quasar 3C 273 as a measure unit, from which we have that
Using those data in the Equation (14), and also the formula (9) to obtain the relativistic red shifts from the red shifts measured directly in the respective spectra, which are reported in the specialized literature, the following results are obtain.
Finally, from the relationship (12), and with the use of the former data, a value of 50.2 kilometers per second per Megaparsec for Hubble’s constant is obtained in every case; and, this is the exact value for that constant.
With all that have been previously mentioned, there are enough reasons to believe that quasars seem to be N- galaxies or Seyfert galaxies which are so far away that only their central core is visible. The N-galaxies are the optical equivalents, in a sense, of the compact radio source, having most of their luminosity contained in small, brilliant, almost stellar nuclei. Their properties read very much like quasars’ properties. On the other hand, the N-galaxies are distinguished by their photographic appearance and the Seyfert galaxies by their spectra. Nevertheless, not all the N-galaxies have spectra with Syefert characteristics; but in general, the spectra of N-galaxies and Seyfert galaxies can be explained in the same way that the spectra of quasars can be.
Also, it is possible to assume that the rapidity of the variations in the luminosity of some quasars, maybe the most distant, can be explained with the aid of the relativistic effect over the size of those objects.
Finally, with the use of the red shifts of the spectral lines picture, it is possible to propose another way to calculate Hubble’s constant.
Angel Fierros Palacios, (2016) About the Quasars. Journal of High Energy Physics, Gravitation and Cosmology,02,323-327. doi: 10.4236/jhepgc.2016.23030