To help us understand the origins of these heavy and important elements, astronomers have just made an exciting and groundbreaking discovery. They propose that the explosive flares of magnetars—highly magnetized neutron stars—produced most of these heavy elements, including gold and platinum. Magnetars are the collapsed core of a once-giant star that exploded in a spectacular supernova. As that collapse occurs, it creates magnetic fields that are trillions of times stronger than Earth’s! Scientists are captivated by these breathtaking cosmic phenomena. They are believed to be a major source of r-process elements, which are important for producing most of the universe’s heavier elements.
Magnetar flares are unpredictable events, erupting every few years or decades. Within our Milky Way galaxy, we observe a large flare every few decades, while across the observable universe, they explode roughly once per year. The most recent ones were remarkable not just in how often they flare, but in their astonishing energy release. In 2004 the most powerful flare known to science erupted, releasing the equivalent energy in seconds that our Sun produces in more than a million years. This energetic explosion ejected copious amounts of heavy elements like iron into the surrounding cosmos.
Understanding Magnetars and Their Flares
Magnetars are born from the colorful leftovers of supernova explosions, in which massive stars run out of their nuclear fuel and collapse. The remnant collapse forms the neutron star during which most of the protons and electrons combine to make neutrons. This state is mind-meltingly dense—only a tablespoon of this stuff would weigh more than a billion tons. The intense magnetic fields of magnetars produce some of the most compelling and mysterious phenomena in the universe, including giant blasts of gamma rays.
From a 2004 magnetar flare, nearly twice the mass of Earth in heavy metals were released. It generated approximately two million billion billion kilograms — on the order of a third of the mass of Earth itself! This extraordinary event has caused astronomers to rethink what this means for the formation of elements throughout the galaxy.
“It’s pretty incredible to think that some of the heavy elements all around us, like the precious metals in our phones and computers, are produced in these crazy extreme environments,” – Anirudh Patel.
The importance of these magnetar flares lies not only in their immense energy. Astronomers believe that up to 10% of all r-process elements currently found in the galaxy may have originated from these cataclysmic outbursts. This upends long-held ideas of where to look for these heavy elements. That’s all particularly important in light of how few r-process sites we know.
The R-Process Connection
The r-process, or rapid neutron capture process, is essential for creating many heavy elements beyond iron in the periodic table. Hydrogen, helium and a little lithium were all created during the Big Bang. To make the heavier elements — like the ones we’re all made of — violent processes are required. Until very recently, scientists had thought that neutron star collisions were one of the primary sources of these elements. As was confirmed with astronomical observations in 2017, such collisions do produce neutron-rich environments, which are perfect for the formation of r-process elements.
The role of magnetars in this process adds an exciting new direction to that research. Brian Metzger, an astrophysicist involved in the study, emphasized the importance of timely observations:
“Once a gamma-ray burst is detected, you have to point an ultraviolet telescope at the source within 10 to 15 minutes to see the signal’s peak and confirm r-process elements are made there,” – Brian Metzger.
This urgency underscores the challenges that astronomers face in attempting to observe transitory signals. It further highlights their desire to know how these amazing cosmic displays are produced.
Future Observations and Research
The continued study of magnetars and their flares will undoubtedly continue to revolutionize our understanding of how the elements of our universe are formed. Astrophysicists are examining the explosive side of these stars. Their ultimate pursuit is to learn more about the origins of the heavy elements that enrich our universe.
Anirudh Patel pointed out that magnetar giant flares could help resolve discrepancies observed in young galaxies:
“Magnetar giant flares could be the solution to a problem we’ve had where there are more heavy elements seen in young galaxies than could be created from neutron star collisions alone,” – Anirudh Patel.
Further down the line, NASA’s Compton Spectrometer and Imager is scheduled to launch in 2027. This mission will significantly enhance our capabilities to detect signals from magnetar flares. Improvements in telescope technology and observational strategy will make it possible for scientists to hunt and see more areas in the universe where r-process elements are produced.
“We can’t exclude that there could be third or fourth sites out there that we just haven’t seen yet,” – Brian Metzger.
The search for new knowledge around magnetars highlights the complex dance between stellar evolution and elemental creation. As researchers continue to push boundaries and explore cosmic phenomena, they will likely uncover more about how these astounding events contribute to the universe’s intricate tapestry.