Neutron stars have been found to be capable of generating powerful jets that shoot out into space at speeds reaching up to one-third the speed of light, according to a recent study led by astrophysicist Thomas Russell. These jets, which carry away gravitational energy from infalling gas, are a phenomenon that has long been observed with black holes but are much less understood when it comes to neutron stars.
Neutron stars, which are incredibly dense stellar remnants with solid surfaces and strong magnetic fields, present unique challenges when it comes to the dynamics of jet launch. However, Russell and his team discovered that termonuclear explosions on neutron stars actually power up these jets rather than disrupting them, as previously thought.
By studying X-ray bursts as starting points for the jets, the researchers were able to measure the speed of the jets, which turned out to be close to the “escape speed” from a neutron star – about half the speed of light. This finding could have implications for further research into how jet speed varies with neutron star masses and rotation rates.
“We were able to use X-ray bursts as markers to show that these jets, while harder to detect than those from black holes, are actually quite powerful and fast-moving,” Russell explained. “This opens up new avenues for investigating the behavior of neutron stars and how they interact with their surroundings.”
The team’s findings could help to shed light on the mysterious processes that govern neutron stars and further our understanding of the fundamental forces at work in the cosmos. Further research will focus on refining the measurements of jet speeds and exploring how they relate to the theoretical models of neutron star behavior.
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