One of the key problems of astrophysics of the last two decades has been solved by astronomers at Moscow State University. They discovered observational spectral features that distinguish white dwarfs from neutron stars that are part of X-ray accreting binary systems. The method of Russian scientists will help facilitate the path to unraveling the nature of compact objects if their nature is controversial or unknown.
As noted in a study published in the World Journal of Physics, Moscow State University found that neutron stars and white dwarfs in X-ray binary systems behave differently in spectral indices α during flares.
These observational features are easy to apply in practice and do not require additional theoretical modeling. In fact, one should only observe the source during an X-ray burst and establish the nature of the evolution and the magnitude of the spectral index, which will immediately indicate the nature of the compact object. In the future, the use of a new method makes it easier to unravel the nature of compact objects in binary X-ray systems if their nature is controversial or unknown.
Neutron stars have a higher temperature (1.1–1.5 keV) than white dwarfs (0.1–0.2 keV). The hot surface of neutron stars reflects X-ray radiation from the accretion disk, while the cold surface of a white dwarf absorbs it. These differences can be detected using high-precision orbital telescopes.
Prior to this, astrophysicists knew about these objects that they differ in geometric and physical parameters. At the same time, both neutron stars and white dwarfs represent a unique opportunity to study the properties of matter in superdense states not found under terrestrial conditions.
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