For The First Time, Astronomers Watch a Neutron Star Power Up Before an X-Ray Blast

[Judi Lynn]

Illustration of a pulsar. (Nahks TrEhnl/NASA)
SPACE

DAN ROBITZSKI, FUTURISM
13 JUNE 2020

For the first time, Australian-led astronomers were able to watch the entire process of a neutron star absorbing material and eventually unleashing a powerful blast of X-rays.

Scientists have long wondered why neutron stars create these violent outbursts.

This time around, it took 15 scientists from five institutes using seven observatories in order to gather the complete data set, according to a Monash University press release. And with that data in hand, the scientists hope to finally make sense of these massive X-ray blasts.

After 12 days of absorbing matter from its accretion disk - matter swirling around in a ring or spiral - the neutron star blasted out a jet of X-rays several thousand times brighter than our Sun.

"These observations allow us to study the structure of the accretion disk, and determine how quickly and easily material can move inwards to the neutron star," said lead researcher Adelle Goodwin.

More:
https://www.sciencealert.com/astronomers-just-watched-a-neutron-star-power-up-for-x-ray-blast-action

[Glorfindel]

1. Mind-bending stuff!

Thanks, as always, Judi Lynn.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Thank you, Glorfindel.

[c-rational]

3. Always interesting articles. Thanks Judi Lynn.