Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
University of Leeds' scientists, analysing data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission, have uncovered a startling revelation that challenges our understanding of star systems. Some star systems, believed to host two stars, may conceal a third star, acting as a 'traitorous' accomplice that influences the dynamics among its companions.
The discovery centres around vampire stars, officially known as "Be" stars, a subcategory of B stars that are exceptionally bright and 2 to 16 times more massive than our Sun. These stars are characterized by rings of superheated gas, and their behaviour has long puzzled astronomers.
Gaia mission data, which precisely pinpoints the positions of a billion stars in the Milky Way, has transformed our comprehension of massive star evolution. The revelation suggests that Be stars, or vampire stars, might exist in triple star systems rather than the previously assumed double star systems.
The research team observed the movement of stars across the night sky over both extended and shorter periods. The analysis revealed subtle wobbles or spirals, indicating the presence of more than one star. This led to the hypothesis that vampire stars might interact with two companion stars, not just one.
Surprisingly, the researchers found that vampire stars exhibited a lower rate of companionship compared to B stars in general. This contrast challenges expectations, as vampire stars were anticipated to have a higher rate of companion stars due to their unique characteristics.
The team speculates that some stars may become too faint to be observed after being feasted upon by vampire stars, potentially explaining the lower rate of detected companions. This introduces the intriguing concept of a hidden third star influencing the system.
Another puzzling observation was the similarity in distances between companion stars in both B star systems and Be star (vampire) systems. This contrasts with expectations, considering the stellar cloaks of stripped-off material surrounding vampire stars.
The combined observations suggest the presence of a hidden third star in Be systems, potentially playing a role in pushing feasted-upon stars closer to vampire stars. This hidden star could act as a cosmic accomplice, akin to Dracula's thrall, supplying victims for the vampire stars.
As victim companion stars approach vampire stars, mass transfer occurs, forming swirling disks around the victim star. The material stripped off during this process may lead to the diminishment of the victim star, supporting the Be stellar disk theory. In simple terms, the vampire stars consume the other stars to form 1 single star.
The findings extend beyond stellar physics, potentially offering insights into the life cycle of stars evolving into black holes or neutron stars. Moreover, the research could contribute to understanding how binaries generate gravitational waves, marking a significant step in unravelling the complexities of celestial systems.