In a study reported recently, astronomers observed the SN 1987A remnant using James Webb-ruimteteleskoop (JWST). The results showed emission lines of ionized argon and other heavily ionised chemical species from the centre of the nebula around SN 1987A. Observation of such ions means presence of a newly born neutron ster as the source of high energy radiation at the centre of the supernova remanent.
Sterre are born, age and finally die with an explosion. When the fuel runs out and nuclear fusion in the core of star ceases, the inward gravitational force squeezes the core to contract and collapse. As the collapse begins, in few milliseconds, the core gets so compressed that electrons and protons combine to form neutrons and a neutrino is released for each neutron formed. In the case of supermassiewe sterre,die kern stort binne 'n kort tydjie ineen met 'n kragtige, ligte ontploffing genaamd supernova. The burst of neutrinos produced during core-collapse escape into outer ruimte unimpeded due to its non-interactive nature with matter, ahead of photons which are trapped in the field, and acts as a beacon or an early warning of a possible optical observation of supernova explosion soon
SN 1987A was the last supernova event seen in southern sky in February 1987. It was the first such supernova event visible to the naked eye since Kepler’s in 1604. Located 160 000 light-years from Earth in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud (a satellite sterrestelsel of the Milky Way), it was one of the brightest exploding stars seen in more than 400 years that blazed with the power of 100 million suns for several months and provided unique opportunity to study the phases before, during, and after the death of a ster.
The SN 1987A was a core-collapse supernova. The explosion was accompanied by neutrino emission which was detected by two water Cherenkov detectors, Kamiokande-II and the Irvine-MichiganBrookhaven (IMB) experiment about two hours prior to the optical observation. This suggested that a compact object (a neutron star or swart gat) should have formed after core collapse, but no neutron star following SN 1987A event or any other such recent supernova explosion was ever directly detected. Though, there is indirect evidence for presence of a neutron star in the remanent.
In a study reported recently, astronomers observed the SN 1987A remnant using James Webb-ruimteteleskoop (JWST). The results showed emission lines of ionized argon and other heavily ionised chemical species from the centre of the nebula around SN 1987A. Observation of such ions means presence of a newly born neutron star as the source of high energy radiation at the centre of the supernova remanent.
Dit is die eerste keer dat die uitwerking van hoë energie-emissie van die jong neutronster opgespoor is.
***
Bronne:
- Fransson C., et al 2024. Emissielyne as gevolg van ioniserende straling van 'n kompakte voorwerp in die oorblyfsel van Supernova 1987A. WETENSKAP. 22 Februarie 2024. Vol 383, Uitgawe 6685 pp. 898-903. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adj5796
- Universiteit van Stockholm. Nuus -James Webb-teleskoop bespeur spore van neutronster in ikoniese supernova. 22 Februarie 2024. Beskikbaar by https://www.su.se/english/news/james-webb-telescope-detects-traces-of-neutron-star-in-iconic-supernova-1.716820
- ESA. News-Webb vind bewyse vir 'n neutronster in die hart van 'n jong supernova-oorblyfsel. Beskikbaar by https://esawebb.org/news/weic2404/?lang
***
