Jets and ejecta from neutron star merger (IMAGE)

University of California - Berkeley

Jets and ejecta from neutron star merger

Caption

In this artist's representation, the merger of two neutron stars to form a black hole (hidden within bright bulge at center of image) generates opposing, high-energy jets of material (blue) that heat up material around the stars, making it emit X-rays (reddish clouds). X-rays also could be produced during violent collisions as material falls into the black hole (yellowish disk around central bulge).

Credit

Image credit: X-ray data from NASA, CXC and Northwestern Univ./A. Hajela; visual by NASA/CXC/M. Weiss

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