Cassiopeia A, Neutron Star Core
This is an artist's impression of the neutron star at the center of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant. The different colored layers in the cutout region show the crust (orange), the higher density core (red) and the part of the core where the neutrons are thought to be in a superfluid state (inner red ball). The blue rays emanating from the center of the star represent the copious numbers of neutrinos that are created as the core temperature falls below a critical level and a superfluid is formed. Cassiopeia A (Cas A) is a supernova remnant located in our Galaxy about 11,000 light years away in the constellation Cassiopeia. These are the remains of a massive star that exploded about 330 years ago, as measured in Earth's time frame. It is the brightest extrasolar radio source in the sky at frequencies above 1 GHz. At the center of the image is a neutron star, an ultra-dense star created by the supernova. Ten years of observations with Chandra have revealed a 4% decline in the temperature of this neutron star, an unexpectedly rapid cooling. This cooling is likely caused by a neutron superfluid forming in its central regions, the first direct evidence for this bizarre state of matter in the core of a neutron star. Release date February 23, 2011.
Size: 3600px × 3600px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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