Discovering a Magnetar: A Rare Neutron Star Beyond the Milky Way

2024-04-26 03:05:19

They discover an electron star outside the Milky Way. Photo: Nat Geo

A study published in the journal Nature on April 23 brought to light the discovery of a new neutron star following a space megaexplosion. This body, better known as a magnet, was seen thanks to the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton telescope after issuing a gamma ray alert in space orbit.

After receiving the notification, the scientists ordered the XMM-Newton telescope track to find out the location of the explosion. Immediately, the Comprehensive Gust Warning System (IBAS, by its acronym in English) located the explosion near the galaxy M82also known as Cigar galaxy due to its oblique formation in the galactic disk.

To reconfirm that it was a neutron star, the Italian National Galileo Telescopes and Observatoire de Haute-Provence were used. In this way, the absence of visible light was confirmed. Sandro Mereghetti, astrophysicist and co-author of the research, assured that the signal came from a magnetic star. “With no signal in X-rays and visible light, and without gravitational waves measured by detectors on Earth (LIGO/VIRGO/KAGRA), we are sure that the signal comes from a magnetar”he commented.

The process of formation of a magnetar

And magnetar is born from the collapse of much more giant stars. They are characterized by having magnetic fields with high energy loads and they work, although it may seem contradictory, thanks to the decomposition of the magnetic field. To explain this, Mereghetti compares the life cycle of stars to biology. “Stars are born, live, die, explode and produce another star”he states.

Formation process of a kilonova driven by a magnetar. Photo: NASA

Magnetars are rare space bodies and, therefore, little studied. Also known as the most powerful magnets in the universepresent fleeting and unpredictable eruptions making resources with the aim of being studied a difficult task for astrophysicists.

In which galaxy are there the most stars?

The galaxy in which there is the greatest number of stars is the galaxy M82. In the report published by Nature, the authors point out that they are “exceptionally excited” for the origin of the nebula, since it is a kind of nursery for massive stars. In this galaxy, according to the report, There are 10 times more stars than in the Milky WayFurthermore, they claim that this is the place where they live fast and burn brightly. Fact that will serve as an object of study in the future.

Gamma-ray image of the galaxy M82. Photo: ESA

When we talk about the M82 galaxy, the stars and magnetars, in terms of numbers, we cannot refer to the same thing. Even though the galaxy M82 is where the largest number of stars are found, magnetars are isolated cases in terms of the discovery of stars. The last magnetar adds to the scarce three encounters that astronomers have had with this phenomenon.

How does a space megaexplosion originate?

The space mega explosion or also known as space earthquakeIt originates when stars suffer damage to their surface. By issuing gamma rays It is communicated to Earth that a high energy discharge occurred in space. The European Space Agency calls this event starquake.

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