Astronomers have long known that the formation of gold, silver, and platinum in our universe’s “jewelry shop” elements was tied to cosmic explosions. However, researchers had only one possible scenario for this violent formation: the collision of two ultradense stellar corpses called neutron stars. Now, a second source has emerged.
Researchers have discovered signatures of the r-process, a heavy element formation mechanism, in a giant flare detected from a highly magnetic neutron star in 2004. This flare, which released more energy than our Sun does in a million years, had previously remained shrouded in mystery. A team of scientists quickly linked it to a nearby magnetar and then found an afterglow signal that seemed to match the predicted radiation patterns for r-process formation.
The discovery solidifies neutron star mergers as a cosmic source for heavy elements but raises questions about other possible sources. Anirudh Patel, lead author of the study, notes that these explosions occur relatively late in the history of our galaxy. To explain heavy elements during earlier eras, researchers will need to explore additional options.
Simulations suggest giant flares might produce heavy elements, and further investigation revealed more evidence for this theory. The radiation detected from the flare matched theoretical predictions for r-process formation, leaving scientists amazed by the coincidence.
While this finding confirms that the r-process exists in multiple astrophysical sites, it also means there may be other sources of heavy elements yet to be discovered. Patel hopes that continued observations will help refine our understanding of these cosmic events and their role in shaping the universe’s elemental composition.
These discoveries bring us closer to understanding how our world’s precious metals were created. The r-process has shaped our lives, from the gold in jewelry to the platinum in catalytic converters – a humbling reminder of the extreme environments that gave rise to these elements.
Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/astronomers-spot-gold-mine-massive-cosmic-flares