Astronomers have unveiled a remarkable celestial find: a binary system where a “dead star” whirls around its scorching companion, compressing 72 years into a single Earth day, as per a report by Space.com. This discovery sheds light on the cosmic phenomena shaping our universe. Let’s delve into the intricacies of this fascinating revelation.
Discovering TMTS J0526
Researchers from Tsinghua University stumbled upon an extraordinary binary system named TMTS J0526, located approximately 2,760 light-years away from Earth. They spotted this dead star using the Tsinghua University-Ma Huateng Telescope for Survey (TMTS).
System Composition
TMTS J0526 comprises a carbon- and oxygen-rich white dwarf star, about 74% the mass of the sun, orbiting a diminutive hot subdwarf star. The subdwarf, only about a third of the sun’s mass and approximately 7 times wider than Earth, ranks among the smallest stars known to humanity.
Record-Breaking Orbits
The components of TMTS J0526 complete a full orbit every 20.5 minutes, setting a new record for this type of binary system. Though not as swift as HM Cancri, which orbits in 5.4 minutes, TMTS J0526’s pace is nonetheless remarkable.
Cosmic Deformities
Despite its size, the hot subdwarf bears witness to the white dwarf’s gravitational influence, which distorts it into an ellipsoid shape during their rapid orbital dance.
Significance of Discovery
TMTS J0526’s discovery holds immense significance. Not only does it boast an extraordinarily short orbital period, but it also provides insights into the origins of subdwarf stars, unraveling mysteries of stellar birth and evolution.
Understanding White Dwarfs
White dwarfs, born from stars like our sun, undergo a transformative process as they deplete their hydrogen fuel. The resulting collapse forms these dense remnants, shielded from further compression by electron degeneracy pressure.
Binary System Dynamics
Many white dwarfs, including TMTS J0526’s companion, exist in binary systems. Theories such as Binary Population Synthesis shed light on the formation of subdwarf stars through the ejection of common envelopes, enriching our understanding of stellar evolution.
Gravitational Waves and Evolution
The binary dance of white dwarfs and hot subdwarfs emits gravitational waves, a phenomenon predicted by Einstein a century ago. These waves carry away angular momentum, causing the stars to spiral closer together and intensify their gravitational waves emissions.
Observational Evidence
TMTS J0526 stands as the first observational evidence supporting the formation of hot subdwarf stars through common envelope ejection. The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, mark a significant leap in our comprehension of celestial mechanics.