Kilonova

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Recently, researchers have confirmed the detection of a star system that will one day end in a kilonova.

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The newly found star system has been labelled CPD-29 2176 and is located about 11,400 light-years from the earth.
CPD-29 2176 is currently a neutron star and a star orbiting each other.

Kilonova, also known as a macronova, is a cosmic explosion that results from the merger of two neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole.
The collision of these ultra-dense objects unleashes a tremendous amount of energy, causing a transient astronomical event that is detectable in different wavelengths of light.

Kilonovae are characterized by a rapid and bright peak of emission, followed by a short-lived afterglow in the form of infrared, optical, and ultraviolet radiation.
The emission is powered by the radioactive decay of heavy elements, mainly r-process elements, that are synthesized in the merger event.
The ejected material also produces a gravitational wave signal that can be detected by sensitive detectors, such as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).

Kilonovae play a crucial role in the study of the universe, as they provide a unique opportunity to probe the physics of compact objects, the behavior of matter at extreme densities and temperatures, and the origin of heavy elements.
They also serve as cosmic laboratories for testing fundamental theories, such as general relativity and the equation of state of matter.
Moreover, kilonovae have practical applications in the field of cosmology, as they can be used as standard candles to measure the expansion rate of the universe.

The stars which are formed when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses are called neutron stars
The very central region of the star – the core – collapses, crushing together every proton and electron into a neutron.

-Source: The Hindu