“Hyper Burst” Nuclear Explosion Observed for the First Time in a Neutron Star
Astronomers believe they have discovered proof for an incredibly powerful nuclear explosion in space– one so unique that seeing one like it again is extremely unlikely.
The explosion appears to have occurred inside an unusual neutron star found 140,000 light-years from Earth called MAXI J0556– 332. Neutron stars are the remnant cores of bigger stars that have exploded in supernovas, leaving city-sized objects which contain as much as twice the mass of our sun.
The MAXI J0556–332
MAXI J0556– 332 was found in 2011, joined with another larger star. It has puzzled astronomers since it was two times the typical temperature of neutron stars when it was first discovered, though it has since cooled down.
Today we might understand why. Dany Page at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and his coworkers believe a massive and unstable thermonuclear explosion might have occurred inside the neutron star.
The event, which they refer to as a “hyper burst,” was so immersed into the star it was undetectable. It would have triggered considerable heating, clarifying the colossal spike in temperature.
Page says: “Finally, we have a physical explanation why it is so hot.” “Everything makes sense.”
Neutron stars
Neutron stars in pairs such as this can exchange material, drawing large quantities of gas onto their surfaces. This process makes the neutron star extremely hot. However, it can also lead to noticeable eruptions near the surface when hydrogen and helium burn, occurring as often as every couple of minutes.
More powerful bursts, referred to as superbursts, happen every few years as heavier carbon is burned approximately 100 meters beneath the neutron star’s surface, discharging 100 times more energy than a normal burst.
The group’s modeling recommends that hyper bursts would be 100 times stronger still and take place 500 meters underneath the surface, deep inside the ocean of thick plasma covering neutron stars. They would result from the burning of oxygen, which would ultimately accumulate and, as Page said, “generate more energy than can be leaked away,” with temperatures nearing 400 million °C.
The outcome would be an explosion that released more energy in a matter of milliseconds than our sun does in 100,000 years– however, it would be undetectable from outside the neutron star due to its depth.
However, pushing sufficient matter into the neutron star to drive this explosion would take a long time. Page said, “You have to wait for maybe 1000 years” The neutron star must also have stopped getting material from its companion in order for the temperature of the explosion to be recognizable, something only seen in a handful of binary neutron stars. This uncommon blend of situations indicates this may be the only hyper burst we ever witness. Page also stated, “We’re fortunate to have one.”
The shallow heating
Anna Watts at the University of Amsterdam mentions it is a “really interesting idea,” considering that previous efforts to clarify this neutron star’s uncommon temperature counted on a concept called shallow heating.
This proposed there was some type of home heating process happening in the crust of the neutron star; however, the science was uncertain. Jean in ‘t Zand at the Netherlands Institute for Space Research stated that “A hyper burst would certainly solve the energy problem.”
There could be an uncommon method to evaluate the concept: by never observing a hyper burst again. This would suggest Page’s concept for their rarity is correct. Watts added, “You just really hope they don’t find another one now,” a rather unusual wish for a possibly brand-new astronomical discovery.
Read the original article on scientiststudy.
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