How Supercomputer Simulations Unveil the Formation of Black Holes and Stellar Jets from Merging Neutron Stars

Merging neutron stars are fascinating for a new field called multi-messenger astronomy. This technique allows scientists to study the different signals produced when two neutron stars collide. These cosmic events emit gravitational waves, neutrinos, and light across various wavelengths. To detect these signals, researchers use a mix of telescopes and detectors, each designed to capture a specific type of signal.

Kota Hayashi from the Max Planck Institute has made strides in this area. He and his team ran a groundbreaking simulation using the Fugaku supercomputer in Japan. This simulation took 130 million CPU hours and tracked the collision of two neutron stars over 1.5 seconds. It carefully considered the effects of general relativity and how strong magnetic fields interact with dense matter in the stars.

"This is the first time we’ve predicted these multi-messenger signals from scratch," Hayashi explains. Their simulation provides an in-depth look at the entire process of the neutron stars merging and forming a black hole, including jet formation. This type of research helps prepare for future observations of similar events.

Before the merger, the two stars, which are about 1.25 and 1.65 times the mass of our sun, spiral closer together, generating gravitational waves. Once they collide, their remnants collapse into a black hole, creating a disk of matter around it. Here, magnetic fields get amplified, which can lead to powerful energy flows that are thought to produce gamma-ray bursts.

Masaru Shibata, who directs the Computational Relativistic Astrophysics department, adds that understanding how these jets form is crucial. It allows scientists to better interpret the data from neutron star mergers and predict phenomena like kilonovae, which are brilliant bursts of light associated with these collisions. Kilonovae are responsible for creating heavy elements like gold, a theory backed by the first confirmed observation during a neutron star merger in 2017.

The team’s research has been accepted by Physical Review Letters and is available on the arXiv preprint server.

This work opens doors for a deeper understanding of the universe. By predicting the emission patterns from these cosmic events, researchers can enhance observations and further unravel the mysteries surrounding neutron stars and their mergers.

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