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TitleCrashing Neutron stars can make gamma-ray burst jets DescriptionShort gamma-ray bursts are difficult to study because they are so short. Less than 2 seconds is not a lot of time to find the burst and capture some data. These images show the merger of two neutron stars recently simulated using a new supercomputer model. Redder colors indicate lower densities. Green and white ribbons and lines represent magnetic fields. The orbiting neutron stars rapidly lose energy by emitting gravitational waves and merge after about three orbits, or in less than 8 milliseconds. The merger amplifies and scrambles the merged magnetic field. A black hole forms and the magnetic field becomes more organized, eventually producing structures capable of supporting the jets that power short gamma-ray bursts. Subject
CreditsNASA/AEI/ZIB/M. Koppitz and L. Rezzolla TypeSimulation Associated LessonGamma Ray Science |
