December 23, 2024

Integral Space Telescope Spots Massive Nuclear Explosions Feeding Neutron Star Jets

When in orbit with another star, the neutron stars extreme gravitational field can end up pulling matter from its buddy star. Part of this accreted matter is then in some way ejected out into jets that race away along the neutron stars rotation axis, and the rest of the matter spirals down onto the neutron star.” On the HuntThis is an important measurement since as soon as adequate accreting neutron stars have been studied, the jet speed can expose the dominant releasing system and show whether the jet is powered by magnetic fields anchored in the accreting product, or in the star itself. Addressing them will impact studies beyond neutron stars due to the fact that jets are produced by lots of astronomical objects.From freshly formed stars to supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies, jets can also be produced by catastrophic occasions such as supernova explosions and gamma-ray bursts. “This result is opening a completely brand-new window to comprehending how astrophysical jets are powered up, in neutron stars and likewise in other jet-producing huge things,” says Erik.Reference: “Thermonuclear explosions on neutron stars expose the speed of their jets” by Thomas D. Russell, Nathalie Degenaar, Jakob van den Eijnden, Thomas Maccarone, Alexandra J. Tetarenko, Celia Sánchez-Fernández, James C. A. Miller-Jones, Erik Kuulkers and Melania Del Santo, 27 March 2024, Nature.DOI: 10.1038/ s41586-024-07133-5.

When in orbit with another star, the neutron stars extreme gravitational field can end up pulling matter from its buddy star.” On the HuntThis is an essential measurement because as soon as enough accreting neutron stars have actually been studied, the jet speed can reveal the dominant introducing mechanism and reveal whether the jet is powered by magnetic fields anchored in the accreting material, or in the star itself. “This outcome is opening a totally new window to understanding how astrophysical jets are powered up, in neutron stars and likewise in other jet-producing astronomical items,” says Erik.Reference: “Thermonuclear surges on neutron stars expose the speed of their jets” by Thomas D. Russell, Nathalie Degenaar, Jakob van den Eijnden, Thomas Maccarone, Alexandra J. Tetarenko, Celia Sánchez-Fernández, James C. A. Miller-Jones, Erik Kuulkers and Melania Del Santo, 27 March 2024, Nature.DOI: 10.1038/ s41586-024-07133-5.