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Chapter 21: Problem 27

What are the similarities between novae and X-ray bursters? What are the differences?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Novae and X-ray bursters both occur in binary star systems and are characterized by sudden brightness increases. They emit X-rays. However, they differ in what triggers these events: a thermonuclear explosion on the white dwarf for novae, and gravitational collapse of material on the neutron star for X-ray bursters. Also, novae recur in thousands of years while X-ray bursters can recur in hours.

Step by step solution

01

Identify Similarities

Novae and X-ray bursters are similar in several ways. Both are celestial phenomena associated with binary star systems, more specifically with a white dwarf in Novae and a neutron star in X-ray bursters orbiting a companion star. They X-ray emissions, from where X-ray bursters get their name, are also seen in some novae. They are both also characterized by sudden, dramatic increases in brightness.
02

Identify Differences

Despite these similarities, novae and X-ray bursters also have key differences. The primary difference between the two lies in the mechanism that triggers the burst of energy. For novae, the burst is triggered by a thermonuclear explosion on the surface of the white dwarf. In contrast, X-ray bursters are usually triggered by the rapid gravitational collapse of material accumulated on the surface of the neutron star. The time scales for these events are also different. Novae typically have a recurrence timescale of thousands to tens of thousands of years while X-ray bursters can recur in hours.
03

Summarize the Similarities and Differences

To recap, novae and X-ray bursters share certain similarities, such as being associated with binary star systems and displaying dramatic increases in brightness. The differences lie mainly in the mechanism that triggers these events and their recurrence times

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