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In an extraordinary discovery, researchers from DTU Space have identified a neutron star spinning at an incredible rate of 716 rotations per second. The neutron star, located 26,000 light years away in the Sagittarius constellation, is one of the fastest-spinning objects ever observed in the universe. It belongs to a binary star system known as 4U 1820-30.
A Rare and Fast-Spinning Neutron Star
This neutron star is a small but extremely dense object, formed from the remains of a massive star that exploded in a supernova. Though only about 12 kilometers in diameter, its mass is 1.4 times greater than the sun’s, making it one of the densest observable objects in the cosmos.
Senior scientist Dr. Gaurava K. Jaisawal, part of the international research team, explained that the neutron star’s remarkable spin was discovered while studying thermonuclear explosions within the system. The star’s astonishing rotation rate of 716 times per second was recorded during these bursts, suggesting it’s one of the fastest-spinning neutron stars ever found. Only another neutron star, PSR J1748–2446, matches this incredible spin rate.
Observations with NASA’s NICER Telescope
The neutron star was observed using NASA’s NICER X-ray telescope, which is fitted with star tracker technology developed by DTU Space. Mounted on the International Space Station, NICER helps astronomers point accurately at distant neutron stars, such as 4U 1820-30, located deep within the Milky Way.
Neutron stars are sometimes referred to as “dead stars” because they are the remnants of exploded massive stars. In X-ray binary systems like 4U 1820-30, a neutron star orbits closely with a white dwarf. The companion star, a white dwarf roughly the size of Earth, orbits the neutron star every 11 minutes—the shortest known orbital period for such a system.
Powerful Thermonuclear Bursts
Neutron stars are known for their intense gravitational pull, which can strip material from their companion stars. This process results in the accumulation of material on the neutron star’s surface. Once enough matter is gathered, a violent thermonuclear burst occurs, releasing energy equivalent to 100,000 times the brightness of the sun.
Associate Professor Jerome Chenevez from DTU Space, a co-author of the study, described these bursts as “extreme events” that offer valuable insights into the life cycles of binary star systems and the formation of elements in the universe.
Record-Breaking Spin Rate
Through NICER observations made between 2017 and 2021, the researchers recorded 15 thermonuclear X-ray bursts from 4U 1820-30. These bursts revealed a signature known as thermonuclear burst oscillations, confirming the neutron star’s spin rate of 716 times per second.
If future observations confirm this, the 4U 1820-30 neutron star will officially join the ranks of the fastest-spinning neutron stars ever observed, providing new insights into the extreme physics governing these fascinating celestial objects.
