‘Cocoons’ of dying star may be emitting gravitational waves (VID)

So far astrophysicists have only detected gravitational waves from binary systems, mergers of black holes or two neutron stars.

According to the researchers, who presented their study at the 242nd meeting of the American Astronomical Society, the “cocoons” that form when massive dying stars clear away debris may emit gravitational waves.

The head of the search is Ore Gottliebis a fellow at Northwestern University’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Exploration in Astrophysics (CIERA). Among the study’s authors is Greek astrophysicist and CIERA director, Vicky Kalogera.

So far astrophysicists have only detected gravitational waves from binary systems, mergers of black holes or two neutron stars. Although in theory astrophysicists should be able to detect gravitational waves from a single, non-binary source, they have yet to detect these signals. The Northwestern University researchers now suggest that attention should be directed to a new, unexpected, and entirely unexplored place: the turbulent, energetic cocoons surrounding dying massive stars.

The researchers used state-of-the-art simulations to model the collapse of a massive star. When these stars collapse into black holes, they can create powerful jets (or jets) of particles that travel at close to the speed of light. The simulation modeled this process from the moment the star collapsed until the jet escaped.

«When I calculated the gravitational waves from the region of the black hole, I found another source that interrupted my calculations, the cocoon. I tried to ignore it but found it impossible to ignore. Then I realized that the cocoon was an exciting source of gravitational wavesOre Gottlieb says. Indeed, as noted in the study, LIGO’s Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory may be able to detect these gravitational waves.

Mr. Gottlieb points out that “our study is an invitation to society to consider pupae as a source of gravitational waves” and adds: “By studying them, we can learn more about what happens inside stars, and the properties and propagation of jets in stellar explosions.».