Neutron Star-White Dwarf Collisions Studied: Conditions for Thermonuclear Explosions and Thorne-Zytkow Object Formation

The violent collision of a neutron star with a white dwarf represents a dramatic event in the cosmos, and recent research clarifies the possible outcomes of such encounters. Zong-kai Peng, from the Institute for Frontier in Astronomy and Astrophysics at Beijing Normal University, alongside He Gao and Xian-Fei Zhang, investigates the physical processes governing these head-on collisions. Their work reveals that the fate of the colliding stars depends critically on the white dwarf’s composition and mass, potentially leading to either a spectacular thermonuclear explosion, creating a unique type of supernova, or the formation of an exotic, long-lived object where the neutron star remains embedded within the white dwarf. This research significantly advances our understanding of these extreme astrophysical events and provides crucial insights into the origins of certain transient phenomena observed across the universe.

Scientists investigated the physical processes governing these head-on collisions, discovering that the fate of the colliding stars depends critically on the white dwarf’s composition and mass. These encounters can lead to spectacular thermonuclear explosions, creating a unique type of supernova, or the formation of an exotic, long-lived object where the neutron star remains embedded within the white dwarf. This work significantly advances our understanding of these extreme astrophysical events and provides crucial insights into the origins of certain transient phenomena observed across the universe.,.

Neutron Star White Dwarf Collision Outcomes Explored

This work pioneers a detailed investigation into head-on collisions between neutron stars and white dwarfs, exploring diverse outcomes ranging from thermonuclear explosions to the formation of unusual stellar objects. Researchers systematically examined collisions involving white dwarfs composed of helium, carbon-oxygen, and oxygen-neon, aiming to determine the conditions under which a collision ignites runaway nuclear burning or results in the neutron star becoming gravitationally bound within the white dwarf’s interior. Simulations show that low-mass carbon-oxygen and oxygen-neon white dwarfs can exert enough drag on the neutron star to prevent its escape, potentially forming a unique object where the neutron star remains embedded within the white dwarf.,.

Neutron Star Collisions Trigger Explosions, New Objects

This research presents a detailed examination of head-on collisions between neutron stars and white dwarfs, revealing a range of possible results. Scientists meticulously modeled the dynamics of neutron star collisions with white dwarfs of varying compositions, investigating whether the impact could ignite runaway nuclear fusion within the white dwarf or result in the neutron star becoming embedded within the white dwarf’s material. The research demonstrates that collisions can indeed trigger thermonuclear explosions, potentially leading to unusual supernovae, but also reveals a pathway for the formation of rare stars where a neutron star is enveloped within a giant star.,.

White Dwarf Mass Dictates Collision Outcomes

This research investigates the outcomes of head-on collisions between neutron stars and white dwarfs, revealing a diverse range of possible results dependent on the white dwarf’s composition and mass. The team systematically examined collisions involving white dwarfs of varying compositions to determine whether these events could trigger thermonuclear explosions or lead to the formation of unusual bound systems. Results demonstrate that, under specific conditions, collisions can indeed ignite a thermonuclear explosion, potentially creating unusual supernovae. Accurately determining the drag experienced by a neutron star traveling through a white dwarf is challenging, representing a key limitation in fully modelling these complex events.