A world group of astronomers and astrophysicists has discovered proof that the intense gamma-ray burst GRB 230307A observed last year was brought on by two neutron stars merging, not from a collapsing large star. Of their research, published within the journal Nature, the group analyzed knowledge from each the Hubble Area Telescope and the James Webb Area Telescope.
Prior analysis has proven that the strongest occasional flashes of sunshine within the evening sky are made by gamma-ray bursts. There are two primary sorts of GRBs: those who last more than two seconds and people which might be shorter. Research of those bursts has proven that the shorter bursts are sometimes the results of merging neutron stars. Longer bursts, then again, had been believed to happen when a large star collapses.
Neutron stars are created when large supergiant stars collapse throughout a supernova. As soon as created, they will wander aimlessly alone via space. Generally, although, they journey shut to a different neutron star, forming a neutron binary system. As they orbit each other, they launch gravitational waves, which may be measured right here on Earth.
As they spiral, they’re additionally pulled extra tightly to 1 one other till they ultimately merge, emitting a large burst of gamma rays, which on Earth seems to be like a vivid burst of sunshine—such bursts are referred to as kilonovae. In finding out GRB 230307A, researchers discovered that not solely had it had been the supply of the second-largest gamma-ray burst ever recorded, but it surely was additionally resulting from a kilonova, confounding theories concerning how GRBs are created.
As a part of their analysis, the group studied the occasions main as much as the merger, the merger itself, and the fabric left after the collision—the primary research of its sort. In specializing in the atomic nuclei left behind after the collision, the researchers discovered proof of the creation of a number of heavy parts, together with gold and silver. Additional research of how such parts had been fashioned, they recommend, may assist to raised perceive how the universe as an entire was fashioned.
Extra data:
Yu-Han Yang et al, A lanthanide-rich kilonova within the aftermath of an extended gamma-ray burst, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06979-5
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Additional research of vivid gamma-ray burst GRB 230307A exhibits it was brought on by neutron stars merging (2024, February 26)
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