An extremely dense and magnetic star intrigues researchers. Its origin does not correspond to classical theories of star formation. The latest observations cast even more doubt on its birth.
In the immensity In the universe, some stars experience a spectacular end. At the end of their lives, they collapse, giving birth to some of the most extreme objects ever observed, such as black holes and neutron stars. These stellar remnants have fascinated scientists for decades with their extraordinary physical properties.
Among these fascinating stars, magnetars occupy a special place. They concentrate magnetic fields so powerful that they surpass anything on Earth. However, the origin of one of them, at the center of our galaxy, called SGR 0501+4516, still eludes researchers, despite years of observations with cutting-edge space instruments.
The magnetar SGR 0501+4516 is baffling scientists by escaping the classic supernova scenario
Discovered in 2008 using NASA's Swift Observatory, SGR 0501+4516 was thought to be originate from a nearby supernova called HB9. However, extensive research using the Hubble Space Telescope and the European Space Agency's Gaia observatory has challenged this hypothesis. A careful analysis of the star's movement across the sky has revealed that it could not have originated from HB9, or from any other known remnant of a stellar explosion. This discovery reinforces the idea that its origin is much more complex than previously thought.
Scientists are now considering other scenarios to explain the birth of SGR 0501+4516. It could be much older than its estimated age of 20,000 years, which would explain its current distance from a possible explosion site. Another possibility is even more intriguing: this magnetar could have been born from the merger of two white dwarf stars.
In this case, a white dwarf would have accumulated matter until exceed a critical limit, causing a collapse without an explosion. If this theory is confirmed, SGR 0501+4516 would become a unique model for better understanding phenomena such as fast radio bursts, powerful and still largely unexplained events.
Source: ESA
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