Researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) and the Yunnan Observatory in China have uncovered fresh info pertaining a previously unknown phase in the evolution of binary stars.
Half of all stars exist in pairs, which are known as binary stars. While star couples lead more complicated lives, we can grasp the lives of stars with single status.
Associate Professor Christian Wolf from ANU said the “common envelope phase” is vital for binary stars but had never been detected.
The study team made the first discovery of a close binary star with an expanding shell of surrounding material that was the remnant of the common envelope.
Associate Professor Wolf said, “in the early stages, two stars often circle around each other with nothing much happening.”
But unlike a single star, when one of the stars becomes a red giant, it does not just grab more void space.
“Instead, it ’embraces’ or engulfs its companion, and they appear as one star under an opaque envelope,” said the professor.
“That’s when things get really exciting. The friction of their motion inside the envelope profoundly alters what happens next for the stars. It not only causes heat but slows down the stars, so they spiral into an ever-tighter orbit; the envelope finally overheats and gets blown away.”
This particular double star’s explosion took place roughly 10,000 years ago.
“The common envelope phase is a missing link in the very long and complex chain of events making up the life of stars. Now we are starting to fix that link,” Associate Professor Wolf added.
It might even aid in the more accurate reconstruction of gravitational wave events like black hole merging.
It is possible, according to the researchers, that more stars at this crucial point of their lives will be found as a result of this initial glimpse of the phenomena.
“It may be easier to recognise them now we have a clearer idea of what to look for. There may be others that have been under our nose the whole time,” Associate Professor Wolf added.
Image Credit: Getty
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