When Neutron Stars Collide, They Explode Like a Mini Big Bang

Astronomers Witness the Explosive Aftermath of a Neutron Star Collision

A team of astronomers has observed the aftermath of a neutron star collision, an event that produced a powerful explosion resembling a miniature version of the Big Bang. The collision, which occurred about 130 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices, was detected by NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, which picked up a burst of gamma rays on October 16, 2022.

Neutron stars are the collapsed cores of massive stars. They are extremely dense objects, with a mass that is about 1.4 times that of the sun squeezed into a diameter of about 20 kilometers. When two neutron stars collide, they release an enormous amount of energy in the form of gamma rays, X-rays, and other radiation. This energy can cause the surrounding gas to heat up to millions of degrees, creating a bright, expanding fireball.

The Mini Big Bang

The collision of two neutron stars is thought to be one of the most powerful events in the universe, after a supernova. The energy released by the collision can be so great that it can create a black hole. In some cases, the collision can also produce a kilonova, a short-lived, extremely bright object that emits a large amount of heavy elements.

The collision observed by the Swift Observatory is thought to have produced a kilonova. The astronomers who observed the event say that the kilonova was about 100 times brighter than a typical supernova. It also emitted a large amount of heavy elements, including gold and platinum.

The astronomers say that the collision they observed is a rare event. They estimate that only about one neutron star collision occurs in every 100,000 galaxies each year. The fact that they were able to observe the aftermath of this collision is a testament to the power of modern telescopes.

The observations of this neutron star collision provide valuable insights into the nature of these extreme events. They also help to shed light on the formation of heavy elements in the universe.

Additional Information

• Neutron stars are born when massive stars collapse at the end of their lives.
• Neutron stars are very dense, with a teaspoon of neutron star material weighing about a billion tons.
• Neutron stars are very hot, with surface temperatures of up to a million degrees Celsius.
• Neutron stars are very magnetic, with magnetic fields that are millions of times stronger than the magnetic field of the Earth.
• Neutron stars are very fast rotators, with some neutron stars spinning as fast as 700 times per second.

Conclusion

The collision of two neutron stars is a rare and powerful event. The observations of this event provide valuable insights into the nature of these extreme events and the formation of heavy elements in the universe.