the collision of two neutron stars

Last May a telescope here on Earth recorded an unusually large explosion that set off all alarms. Astronomers pointed to multiple telescopes and instruments to see what that astronomical event was. Now and with the data analyzed, a group of researchers believe we have recorded the birth of a magnetar for the first time. The result of the collision of two neutron stars.

A magnetar is a file neutron star with a considerably powerful magnetic field. Magnetars get an extremely powerful glow, one 570,000 million times brighter than our Sun was discovered in 2016. They are also responsible for the mysterious fast radio bursts. We have already discovered other magnetars in the Universe, but never a “baby” before.

An unusual pattern

This is what made astronomers claim having seen the birth of a magnetar for the first time, the unusual pattern of the event. First, there was a short, very bright flash of gamma radiation. Then there was a brighter, longer-lasting explosion, a sign that two neutron stars are colliding. This latter glow was much brighter than usual, suggesting that it is a phenomenon that astronomers have never seen before.

Researchers say what they have observed simply does not fit traditional explanations for brief gamma-ray bursts. That’s why they believe they first witnessed the birth of a magnetar. This would explain the large amount of infrared emission and its brilliance.

This time the astronomers they were able to capture the explosion in its early stage to see the infrared emission peak. According to Wen-fai Fong, an astronomer at Northwestern University in Illinois and lead author of the research, “Hubble was able to take an image just three days after the explosion,” allowing us to see the evolution of infrared emission. “When Hubble looked back at 16 days and 55 days, we knew that not only had we captured the fading source, but we had also discovered something very unusual,” he says.

Researchers have long wondered why magnetars become so magnetic. Seeing their training can help answer this question. To finally confirm that it is a magnetar, further future analyzes will have to be carried out. Magnetars are characterized by the emission of fast radio flashes, future observations should reveal the radio emissions from there.

Vía | Northwestern Now