Neutron Star Brightens 100 Times, Surprising Astronomers Worldwide
After years of fading, a neutron star shocked scientists. It suddenly became more than 100 times brighter. This dramatic flare came from NGC 7793 P13. The system sits about 10 million light-years from Earth.
Neutron Stars Shine
Neutron stars pack extreme mass into tiny spaces. As a result, their gravity pulls in nearby gas.This process is called accretion. When gas crashes onto the surface, it releases intense X-rays.
The Mystery of Supercritical Accretion
Some neutron stars shine far brighter than expected. Therefore, scientists suspect supercritical accretion plays a role.In this process, huge amounts of gas fall inward. However, researchers still debate how it really works.A team from Ehime University studied P13 for over a decade. They used data from several space telescopes.From 2011 to 2021, the star slowly dimmed. Then, in 2022, it began to brighten again.By 2024, P13 reached peak brightness. Its X-ray output rose more than two orders of magnitude.
Rotation and Brightness Are Linked
P13 spins very fast, about once every 0.4 seconds. Over time, its spin rate increased steadily.During the bright phase, the spin acceleration doubled. As a result, scientists saw a clear connection.This link suggests changes in how matter flows onto the star. Therefore, the accretion system likely shifted.Gas does not fall evenly onto neutron stars. Instead, magnetic fields guide it toward the poles.There, the gas forms tall accretion columns. During bright phases, these columns grow higher.In faint phases, the columns shrink. For example, P13 showed shorter columns during its dim period.Every extreme star teaches us something new. In addition, P13 offers rare insight into cosmic feeding habits.Understanding these changes may explain other powerful X-ray sources. Ultimately, it helps us decode the universe’s most extreme objects.
