Neutron Star Merger Simulation with Gamma-ray Observations

Neutron Star Merger Simulation with Gamma-ray Observations –

This animation follows the gravitational wave and density changes in a simulated neutron star merger and compares them to measurements of a short gamma-ray burst observed by NASA’s Compton mission on July 11, 1991. Dark purple colors represent the lowest-density material, while yellow-white shows the highest. An audible tone and a visual frequency scale (at left) track the steady rise in the frequency of gravitational waves as the neutron stars close. When the objects merge at 19 seconds, the gravitational waves suddenly jump to frequencies of thousands of hertz and bounce between two primary tones. A magenta line appears at left to illustrate how quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) found in the gamma-ray emission correlate to those of the simulated gravitational waves. At the same time, a graph at upper right traces the changes in gamma-ray brightness observed during the same burst. To symbolize the ultimate formation of a black hole, a dot has been added at the center.

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and STAG Research Centre/Peter Hammond

Scott Wiessinger (KBRwyle) – Lead Producer

Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park) – Lead Science Writer

Cecilia Chirenti (University of Maryland, College Park) – Scientist

This video can be freely shared and downloaded at https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14209. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, the music and some individual imagery may have been obtained through permission and may not be excised or remixed in other products. Specific details on such imagery may be found here: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14209. For more information on NASA’s media guidelines, visit https://nasa.gov/multimedia/guidelines.

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