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A new study shows how tidal forces in binary neutron star systems could provide a deep understanding of the workings of the universe and the internal dynamics of
A new study shows how tidal forces in binary neutron star systems could provide a deep understanding of the workings of the universe and the internal dynamics of these stars through analysis of gravitational waves.
Nicholas Younes, a professor of physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said that a better understanding of the inner workings of neutron stars could lead to a better understanding of the dynamics underlying the workings of the universe and help develop future technologies. A new study led by Younes details a new understanding of how the energy-consuming tidal forces in binary or binary neutron star systems could improve our understanding of the universe.
“Neutron stars are the collapsed cores of stars and are the densest, most stable material objects in the universe, much denser and colder than conditions that particle colliders can create,” said Younes, who is also founding director of the Illinois Center for Advanced Study. “The existence of neutron stars tells us that there are unknown properties of astrophysics, gravitational physics and nuclear physics that play a very important role in the inner workings of our universe.”
However, many of these previously invisible features became observable with the discovery of gravitational waves.
“The properties of neutron stars are reflected in the gravitational waves they emit. These waves then travel millions of light-years through space to detectors on Earth, such as the advanced European Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory and the Virgo Collaboration,” Younes said. “By detecting and analyzing the waves, we can infer the properties of neutron stars and learn about their internal composition and physics in their extreme environments.”
As a gravitational physicist, Younes was interested in determining how gravitational waves encode information about the tidal forces that distort the shape of neutron stars and affect their orbital motion. This information can also tell physicists more about the dynamic properties of the star’s material, such as internal friction or viscosity, which can give us insight into non-equilibrium physical processes that lead to a net transfer of energy into or out of the system,” Younes said.
Using data from the gravitational wave identified as GW170817, Younes, along with Illinois researchers Justin Ripley, Abhishek Hegade, and Rohit Chandramouli, used computer simulations, analytical models, and advanced data analysis algorithms to confirm that the tidal forces are unbalanced. This limits the detection of neutron star binary systems using gravitational waves. The GW170817 event was not high enough to provide a direct viscosity measurement, but Younes’ team was able to put the first observational constraints on how large the viscosity inside neutron stars could be. The results of the research were published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
“This is a significant advance for ICASU and the United States in particular,” Younes said. “In the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, Illinois pioneered many of the leading theories in nuclear physics, particularly those related to neutron stars. This legacy can continue thanks to access to data from the advanced LIGO and Virgo detectors, the collaboration made possible by ICASU and the decades of nuclear physics expertise already here.”
Source: Port Altele
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