Slow, Dense Cosmic Wind Defies Physics, Forces Rethink of Neutron Star Behavior

4 weeks ago7 min read8 comments

A baffling discovery from a distant star system is forcing a fundamental rewrite of the rules governing matter in the most extreme environments. Astronomers using the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) have observed the system GX13+1, where a neutron star cannibalizes a companion star.According to established astrophysics, the intense radiation from this violent process should propel a supersonic wind of stellar material outward at nearly the speed of light. This phenomenon, known as a radiation-driven outflow, is a pillar of high-energy astrophysics.However, XRISM’s data revealed the opposite: a slow, dense, fog-like wind creeping away from the neutron star. This unexpected finding shatters the standard model and points to a previously unknown mechanism at work.The new leading theory suggests that temperature variations across the star's accretion disk, rather than pure radiation pressure, are generating these sluggish winds through cosmic pressure gradients. This is analogous to finding a jet engine that, under certain conditions, produces a gentle breeze instead of a roaring thrust.The implications extend far beyond a single star system. The speed and density of these outflows are critical for seeding galaxies with heavy elements forged in stellar furnaces.A slow, dense wind would deposit this enriched material much closer to its origin, potentially creating pockets of concentrated star formation and altering the chemical future of entire galactic neighborhoods. This discovery challenges our understanding of other cosmic powerhouses, from ultraluminous X-ray sources to the supermassive black holes at galactic centers. As a new era of X-ray astronomy dawns, this strange, slow wind serves as a potent reminder that the universe still holds profound mysteries that defy our best models.

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#neutron star

#space physics

#accretion disc

#XRISM

#GX13+1

#radiation-driven wind