World · India Bureau
Telescope captures rare glimpse of matter feeding neutron star
An international research team has directly observed gas streaming onto a neutron star's surface using advanced space telescope technology. The breakthrough observation offers astronomers fresh insights into how these extreme cosmic objects accumulate matter from their surroundings.
LSN India ·
Astronomers using the XRISM space telescope have documented a rare astronomical event: the direct observation of material falling onto a neutron star's surface in the binary system GX 301–2. The observation, recorded on February 1, 2025, captured unprecedented details about how matter reaches one of the universe's most extreme objects.
The research team tracked changes in iron absorption signatures across the observed timeframe, detecting a remarkable shift from redshift to emission features. This transformation provides critical evidence for a multi-phase accretion process—a theoretical model suggesting that matter reaches the neutron star through multiple distinct pathways rather than a single, uniform stream.
The findings reveal complex interactions between the neutron star and the stellar wind from its companion star. Such interactions fundamentally shape how material flows toward and accumulates on the neutron star's surface. These detailed observations bridge a significant gap between theoretical models and direct astronomical evidence of accretion processes.
The study advances understanding of neutron star physics and demonstrates the analytical capabilities of modern space-based instruments. Such observations are essential for astronomers seeking to comprehend how these collapsed stellar remnants feed on nearby matter and maintain their intense gravitational and magnetic environments.