Since their discovery, neutron stars have represented one of the most enchanting mystery for scientists. A recent article by Adam Mann suggests that the discovery made lately concerning the nature of neutron stars may reinvent the entire perspective on the subject matter. Though discovering the entire nature of the core of a neutron star is unlikely to ever become a possibility, further studies may allow delving deeper into its composition, thus, making fascinating explorations.
The concept of a neutron star is typically represented as the result of the subatomic fusion occurring immediately after the supernova explosion. Though the constituents of the surface thereof are fairly well-known, the contents of neutron stars are yet to be discovered. Previously, it was believed that ionized particles were woven into a lattice of the crust within the core (Mann 21). However, recent examination of the nature of neutron stars has shown that several possibilities exist (Mann 21). Namely, the application of the NICER’s hotspot method has allowed determining the masses of several neutron stars so that further assumptions regarding the contents of the core could be made (Mann 22). Most importantly, the location of hotspots within neutron stars, whose environment used to be compared to magnetic fields, has proven to be in an entirely different position (Mann 22). The specified discovery has led to the possible detection of a pulsar and the resulting changes in the understanding of the magnetic field of a neutron star.
However, the described change in perspectives on the components and nature of the core of a neutron star still requires thorough work. Though the unusual observations are understandably fascinating, more work must be done in order to unravel the related information about the core of neutron stars. Most importantly, one must realize that neutron stars ware likely to retain some of their mysteries unresolved due to the complications associated with their analysis.
Work Cited
Mann, Adam. “The Strange Hearts of Neutron Stars.” Nature, vol. 579, no. 1, 2020, pp. 20-22.