Jul 082013
 

New type of stellar body theorized: the “blitzar.” In short: a static neutron star can only get just so massive. After passing a certain mass limit (the Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff limit, about 1.97±0.04 solar masses), the force of gravity is enough that the separate neutrons that form a neutron star get mashed together into a new, denser form… allowing the neutron star to collapse further into a black hole. However, there is evidence that it may be possible for a neutron star to exceed the TOV limit while not collapsing into a black hole. This can be done by extremely fast rotation… the centripetal force counters some of the force of gravity, allowing the neutron star to have extra mass.

Rapidly rotating neutron stars also have powerful magnetic fields. The interplay of the magnetic field with the larger environment will, over time, slow the rotation of the neutron star. A this happens, the star might slow enough that the TOV limit comes into effect, and the neutron star collapses into a black hole. This will happen in, well under “blink of an eye,” with the result being that the engine that drives the magnetic field has collapsed beyond the event horizon while the magnetic field is still operating. The result of that, apparently, is that the magnetic field goes “boom,” and releases a massive but very brief burst of radio waves. This hypothetical event is the “blitzar.”

Possible explanation for radio bursts: Meet the “blitzar”

There is evidence that this has been observed several times. Fast Radio Bursts have been picked up by radio telescopes; duration of the event is less than five milliseconds, followed by silence.

Mysterious radio bursts come from outside our galaxy

 Posted by at 11:43 am