Probing the magnetic field of a mysterious neutron star in a massive binary system

Star system: HD 153919 A | Distance from the Sun: 5155 light years

Using the NuSTAR space telescope, researchers have performed a deep analysis of the X-ray binary 4U 1700-37, a system where a compact object—likely a neutron star—is pulling material from a massive supergiant star HD 153919. 

By studying the high-energy light emitted as this material falls toward the object, the team looked for 'cyclotron lines,' which act as a direct probe of a star's magnetic strength. While no rhythmic pulses were found, the study suggests the neutron star possesses a powerful magnetic field, trillions of times stronger than Earth's. These findings help scientists understand how the object consumes gas from its companion's stellar wind and why it doesn't appear to spin as fast as other similar stars in our galaxy.

Scientific study

Constraints on cyclotron features and accretion regime in the high-mass X-ray binary 4U 1700--37 from NuSTAR (external link)