A massive helium star with a sufficiently strong magnetic field to form a magnetar
3 institutional releases
Published in Science · View the paper (DOI)
Researchers discovered a new type of astronomical object - a massive magnetic helium star that may evolve into a magnetar. The star has a phenomenally powerful magnetic field, about 43,000 gauss, and will eventually collapse into a neutron star with an even stronger magnetic field.
Coverage from 3 institutions
- Astronomers find progenitor of magnetic monster Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) · Aug 17, 2023 · first to report
- A strongly magnetic Wolf-Rayet star is expected to produce a magnetar American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) · Aug 17, 2023
- New type of star gives clues to mysterious origin of magnetars ESO · Aug 17, 2023