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Thermonuclear explosions on neutron stars reveal the speed of their jets

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas D. Russell

    (Institute of Space Astrophysics and Cosmic Physics, INAF)

  • Nathalie Degenaar

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Jakob van den Eijnden

    (University of Warwick
    University of Oxford)

  • Thomas Maccarone

    (Texas Tech University)

  • Alexandra J. Tetarenko

    (Texas Tech University
    University of Lethbridge
    University Park)

  • Celia Sánchez-Fernández

    (European Space Astronomy Centre (ESA/ESAC))

  • James C. A. Miller-Jones

    (Curtin University)

  • Erik Kuulkers

    (European Space Agency (ESA))

  • Melania Del Santo

    (Institute of Space Astrophysics and Cosmic Physics, INAF)

Abstract

Relativistic jets are observed from accreting and cataclysmic transients throughout the Universe, and have a profound impact on their surroundings1,2. Despite their importance, their launch mechanism is not known. For accreting neutron stars, the speed of their compact jets can reveal whether the jets are powered by magnetic fields anchored in the accretion flow3 or in the star itself4,5, but so far no such measurements exist. These objects can show bright explosions on their surface due to unstable thermonuclear burning of recently accreted material, called type-I X-ray bursts6, during which the mass-accretion rate increases7–9. Here, we report on bright flares in the jet emission for a few minutes after each X-ray burst, attributed to the increased accretion rate. With these flares, we measure the speed of a neutron star compact jet to be $$v={0.38}_{-0.08}^{+0.11}c$$ v = 0.38 − 0.08 + 0.11 c , much slower than those from black holes at similar luminosities. This discovery provides a powerful new tool in which we can determine the role that individual system properties have on the jet speed, revealing the dominant jet launching mechanism.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas D. Russell & Nathalie Degenaar & Jakob van den Eijnden & Thomas Maccarone & Alexandra J. Tetarenko & Celia Sánchez-Fernández & James C. A. Miller-Jones & Erik Kuulkers & Melania Del Santo, 2024. "Thermonuclear explosions on neutron stars reveal the speed of their jets," Nature, Nature, vol. 627(8005), pages 763-766, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:627:y:2024:i:8005:d:10.1038_s41586-024-07133-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07133-5
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