Identifying a Supernova is an event that astronomers usually celebrate with enthusiasm. And it is not for less if we consider that it is One of the most violent events with which we can run into the cosmos. Knowing them better is very important because it can help us understand more precisely what the latest stages of The life of mass starsand also the mechanisms that explain how the material caused by stellar synthesis can lead to new star systems.
The mathematical tools handled by astrophysics current nuclear fusion that take place in the nucleus of mass stars. During the stage known as the main sequence, stars obtain their energy from the fusion of hydrogen nuclei. As this chemical element is consumed, the star begins to produce helium nuclei, and, of course, its composition begins to evolve.
During this process a huge amount of energy is released and the star is forced to continuously readjust to maintain hydrostatic balance, a phenomenon that is the result of the coexistence of two opposite forces capable of compensating. One of them is the gravitational contraction, which compresses the subject of the star, pressing it without rest. And the other is the radiation and gase pressure, which is the fruit of the ignition of the nuclear oven and tries to expand the star.
‘Teleios’ is the perfect supernova
If the star is massive enough will begin to consume its helium reserves and produce new carbon nuclei, while maintaining the hydrostatic balance we have talked about. And if the star has enough mass will not stop in carbon production. When this element is exhausted in the nucleus, it will be readjusted, compressing and increasing once again its temperature to stop the gravitational collapse.
From this moment the carbon nuclei will enter into ignition through nuclear fusion processes and the production of even heavier chemical elements will begin. While in the star’s core is being carried out Carbon fusionin the immediately superior layer the ignition of the helium is maintained. And above this, of hydrogen.
The iron core suddenly contracts under the enormous pressure that all layers of material that it has above the material exerted on it
During star nucleosynthesis, stars acquire a layer -shaped structure similar to that of an onion. In the nucleus lies the heaviest element, and from there we are ascending by layers finding more and lighter elements. If the star has accumulated sufficient mass there will come a time when the nucleus will be essentially constituted by iron, and from this chemical element it is not possible to obtain more energy through nuclear fusion processes.
At that time the radiation and gase pressure is not enough to counteract gravitational contraction, so Iron core suddenly contracts under the enormous pressure that all layers of material that it has above. The star has lost the hydrostatic balance. At this moment all this matter loses the support that the nucleus exercised, which is now much more compact, and falls on it with enormous speed.
When all that star material touches the surface of the nucleus there is a rebound effect that causes it to be fired with a huge energy towards the stellar medium, being disseminated. A supernova has just been produced. Some of them are so energetic that for a few seconds they emit more light than the entire galaxy that contains them. This was probably what happened to ‘Teleios’, the remnant of a supernova recently discovered by an astronomer team from the University of Sidney (Australia).
The remnant is nothing more than the material that is spread in a region of space after the production of a supernova
In the field of Supernovas, the remainder is nothing more than the material that is scattered in a region of space after the production of a supernova. It usually acquires the shape of an expanding bubble in which it is possible to identify an external and brilliant region in which the shock wave and a diffuse interior section occurs constituted by dense and cold dust and dust. The image we publish on the cover of this article recreates a supernova in the most reliable way possible, and in it we can clearly observe the two regions in which we have just inquired.
Astronomers from the University of Sidney have identified the remnant ‘Teleios’ using the Australian Askap telescope (Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder), and have realized something very interesting: its geometry is almost perfectly circular. It is very unusual that the material left after the production of a supernova acquires such a perfect geometry. Although these astrophysics shuffle several scenarios that could explain this morphology, in Your scientific article They propose to carry out more observations to determine why ‘Teleios’ is so different from other remnants.
The identification of the conditions that have given rise to this cosmic object can help cosmologists to understand better What happens during the production of a Supernova and what parameters delimit the evolution of the remnant that will remain in space long after this great explosion occurs. In fact, these Australian astrophysicists have estimated that ‘Teleios’ is at a distance between 7,170 and 25,100 light years.
Image | Generated by Xataka with Dall-e
More information | Arxiv
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