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Is GRO J1744-28 a strange star?
1K. S. Cheng, Department of Physics, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Z. G. Dai, Department of Astronomy, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China. D. M. Wei, Purple Mountain Observatory, Nanjing 210008, China. T. Lu, Department of As.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 29, 1998
Summary
The strange star model explains the hard x-ray burster GRO J1744-28. Energy release from crust breaking and fireball expansion matches observed x-ray bursts.
Area of Science:
- Astrophysics
- High-energy astrophysics
- Stellar physics
Background:
- GRO J1744-28 is an unusual hard x-ray burster.
- Previous models struggled to explain its observed characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel model for GRO J1744-28.
- To explain the observed burst properties using this new model.
Main Methods:
- Modeling GRO J1744-28 as a strange star with a dipolar magnetic field.
- Simulating the process of crust breaking, strange matter conversion, and relativistic fireball expansion.
- Comparing model-derived burst properties (energy, duration, interval, spectrum) with observational data.
Main Results:
- The strange star model with a magnetic field of <=10(11) gauss successfully explains GRO J1744-28.
- The model predicts energy release via crust breaking and conversion to strange matter.
- Relativistic fireball expansion and interaction with the interstellar medium generate observable x-ray bursts.
Conclusions:
- The proposed strange star model is consistent with the observed burst energy, duration, interval, and spectrum of GRO J1744-28.
- This model provides a viable explanation for the phenomenon of hard x-ray bursting in this object.