Understanding X-ray Eruptions and Neutron Stars

Flashcards to aid in understanding the key concepts from the lecture on neutron stars, X-ray bursters, and related phenomena.

X-ray burster

A celestial phenomenon characterized by violent eruptions that emit X-rays, often a thousand times brighter than the sun.

Accretion disk

A disk of gas and dust formed around a neutron star or black hole as material is pulled from a companion star due to gravitational forces.

Neutron star

A highly dense stellar remnant composed primarily of neutrons, often found in binary systems.

Supernova

A powerful and luminous explosion of a star at the end of its life cycle, leading to the dispersal of its outer layers.

White dwarf

A small, dense star that is the remnant core of a medium-sized star, typically no longer undergoing fusion.

Brightness of X-ray eruptions

X-ray eruptions from neutron stars can be a thousand times brighter than the sun.

Binary pairs

Systems in which two stars orbit each other, often found with neutron stars.

Mass transfer

The process by which a neutron star pulls matter away from its companion star, leading to the formation of an accretion disk.