blue shift

 

or blueshift, in astronomy, the systematic displacement of individual lines in the spectrum of a celestial object toward the blue, or shorter wavelength, end of the visible spectrum. The amount of displacement is a function of the object's relative velocity toward the observer. Most observed blue shifts are the result of the Doppler effect. The blue shift is the opposite of the red shift. Blue shifted celestial bodies are quite rare. Of the billions of known galaxies, only about 100, including the Andromeda galaxy, are blue shifted.

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Blue Shift refers to a shortening of a transmitted signal's wavelength, and/or an increase in its frequency. The name comes from the fact that the shorter-wavelength end of the optical spectrum is the blue (or violet) end, hence, when visible light is compacted in wavelength, it is "shifted towards the blue", or "blue-shifted". Since the longer-wavelength end of the visible electromagnetic spectrum is red, the opposite effect, of a lengthening of a signal's wavelength, is referred to as redshifting.

These terms and conventions ("blue" = compaction, "red"=stretching) are used even when referring to signals outside the optical range (for instance, radio waves, x-rays and gamma rays).

These effects are usually associated with relative motion between the signal source and the observer (a Doppler shift or Doppler effect), where a blueshift will be caused by the two moving towards each other. The term is also used informally to refer to a hypsochromic shift in photochemistry.

Astronomy

Redshift is much more noted due to its importance to modern astronomy. While the general redshift of starlight is seen as evidence for an expanding universe, there are a few examples of blue shift in astronomy:

• The Andromeda Galaxy is moving towards our own Milky Way Galaxy within the Local Group; thus, when observed from earth, its light is undergoing a blue shift.
• When observing spiral galaxies, the side spinning towards us will have a slight blue shift (see Tully-Fisher relation).
• Also, Blazars are known to propel relativistic jets towards us, emitting synchrotron radiation and Bremsstrahlung that appears blue shifted.
• Nearby stars such as Barnard's Star are moving towards us, resulting in a very small blue shift

Cause of blueshift in astronomy

These are the known possible causes of blue shift in astronomy:

1. Movement of the source towards us, as seen in
   1. the edge of a rotating galaxy moving towards us
   2. In blazars which propel relativistic jets towards us
   3. Some galaxies [1] and quasars [2]
2. Gravitational effects. See gravitational redshift

See also

• Doppler effect
• Redshift
• Theory of relativity

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