The XRISM X-ray observatory, launched in 2023, has provided the first detailed observations of matter falling onto a pulsar. Researchers focused on the GX 301-2 binary system, located approximately 9,900 light-years from Earth in the Crux constellation, which includes a massive star and a neutron star.
Data reveals that matter typically moves toward the pulsar as a chaotic, turbulent flow. However, near the point of closest approach between the two stars, the captured gas shifts to form a temporary spiral, disk-like structure. These findings were recently published in the journal Science Advances.
This study confirms theoretical models regarding the formation of transient accretion disks around pulsars. By analyzing the velocity and direction of hot plasma through high-precision X-ray spectroscopy, scientists can better understand the physics of accretion and the mechanisms behind powerful X-ray flares in extreme gravitational environments.
