Devour Thy Neighbor Animation (2004)

Another idea for the origin of a gamma ray burst (GRB) is called the Binary Merger Theory. It begins with two neutron stars, or a neutron star and a black hole orbiting each other. The gravitational wave energy emitted by these two gigantic stellar objects causes them to swirl around each other faster and faster, like two boxers in a ring preparing for the first punch. They begin to look misshaped, becoming more oblong the closer they get to one another. The final merger occurs quickly. A black hole is formed and gamma rays shoot out as a GRB.

Credit: NASA

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• astronomy
• black hole
• gamma ray burst
• Binary Merger Theory
• neutron star
• gravitational waves