Sized Object Found Orbiting Around Zombie Star » Explorersweb

A bizarre system known as J2322-2650 has revealed some surprises. An exoplanet, similar in size to Jupiter, orbits a highly energetic neutron star, constantly exposed to gamma rays. Recent observations by a team of astronomers have detailed the planet's characteristics, revealing powerful westerly winds and an atmosphere unlike any seen before.

This raises the question: Is it truly a planet?

**Pulsars and Companions**

Neutron stars form when massive stars undergo a supernova, expelling their outer layers. The core collapses because it can no longer sustain itself through nuclear fusion. Depending on the star's size, this collapse results in either a black hole or a neutron star.

In some ways, neutron stars are more dynamic than black holes. Many emit intense bursts of gamma rays and X-rays. These emissions are energetic enough to damage human cells. Neutron stars also commonly emit periodic radio waves due to their magnetic fields. The exact mechanism and origin point of these radio emissions remain unknown.

Neutron stars that emit radio waves are called pulsars, sometimes referred to as zombie stars, because they are the remnants of dead stars. The regularity of these radio pulses led Jocelyn Bell, their discoverer, to jokingly call them "little green men."

Astronomers study pulsars' radio waves to investigate various phenomena. They can detect companion stars, ranging from rocky planets to other neutron stars, by observing slight delays in the arrival times of the pulses at the telescope.

This method led the team studying J2322-2650 to focus the James Webb Space Telescope on this system. Traditional exoplanet surveys would likely have missed the faint, Jupiter-like companion because pulsars typically do not emit visible light.

**Carbon Winds and a Lemon Shape**

Jupiter-like planets usually have atmospheres mainly composed of hydrogen and helium, similar to the Sun. Heavier elements like nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen enable the formation of molecules such as ammonia and methane. While gas giant exoplanets vary, nothing quite like the companion of J2322-2650 has been observed before.

Instead of a hydrogen-based atmosphere, scientists found mostly helium and a surprisingly high amount of carbon. This carbon is in the form of pure molecular carbon, not hydrocarbon chains. In solid form, pure carbon creates minerals like graphite and diamonds. Gaseous clouds of pure carbon have no known analog on Earth; even soot contains oxygen and hydrogen.

Peter Gao, a co-author of the study, expressed his surprise, stating that the team's reaction to the data was, "What the heck is this?" He emphasized that the observation was extremely different from their expectations.

The planet's carbon-rich atmosphere is likely due to its proximity to the pulsar. The strong gravitational forces of the pulsar tidally lock the planet, causing one side to constantly face the pulsar. This tidal locking stretches the planet into an elongated, football-like shape, because the near side experiences a stronger gravitational pull than the far side.

In summary, the companion of this zombie star is an elongated, tidally locked object with carbon winds. Its near side is constantly bombarded by gamma rays, while its far side remains in perpetual darkness.

**What Exactly Is It?**

**Black Widow Pulsars**

"Black widow" is a specific term used to describe certain pulsars. It refers to a pulsar that is consuming the atmosphere of its companion, similar to how a female black widow spider consumes its mate. Often, these companions are brown dwarfs, which are failed stars more akin to Jupiter than the Sun.

Most astronomers classify brown dwarfs as planets. Like Jupiter, they possess hydrogen atmospheres containing molecules like methane, along with iron and silicate compounds. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. they are not primarily composed of helium and pure molecular carbon.

Even if this system represents a late stage in black widow formation, the abundance of carbon remains unusual. Carbon and oxygen form at similar stages of stellar evolution, suggesting that a significant amount of oxygen should also be present in the atmosphere.

The study's authors suggest other possibilities, such as the merger of a helium white dwarf and a carbon-oxygen white dwarf. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. these scenarios still fail to fully explain the observed carbon concentration. While the current appearance of this companion is known, its origin remains a mystery.