In a groundbreaking discovery, ESA’s Integral space telescope has captured jets of matter being expelled into space at one-third the speed of light, following massive nuclear explosions on the surface of a neutron star.
Neutron Stars and X-ray Bursts
Neutron stars are the collapsed cores of massive stars that have exploded as supernovae. These incredibly dense objects can pack the mass of the Sun into a sphere only tens of kilometers across. Some neutron stars have extremely strong magnetic fields that can power spectacular displays of X-ray light, known as X-ray bursts.
High-Speed Jets from Nuclear Explosions
The recent observations from Integral have revealed that these X-ray bursts can also launch jets of matter at a substantial fraction of the speed of light. The jets are propelled by a series of powerful nuclear explosions on the surface of the neutron star, triggered by the sudden accretion of material from a companion star. As the accreted material is heated and compressed, it undergoes thermonuclear fusion, releasing enormous amounts of energy and driving the expulsion of the jets.
Implications for Understanding Neutron Stars
These findings provide new insights into the extreme physics of neutron stars and the energetic processes that can occur on their surfaces. The discovery of these high-speed jets adds to our understanding of how neutron stars can release vast amounts of energy through nuclear reactions and the associated ejection of matter. Further study of these phenomena may shed light on the complex dynamics and evolution of these exotic celestial objects.