Neutron stars on collision course.

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the collision of two neutron stars, each with a mass of 2 Solar masses and a radius of 6 km, which are on a collision course. The impact speed is approximately 1.4 times the speed of light, leading to a preliminary mass-energy yield of 6.4E47 Joules. The consensus is that upon collision, the neutron stars would merge and form a black hole, as they would be near the event horizon at the moment of contact. The discussion also briefly explores the implications if the stars were of insufficient mass, such as 1 Solar mass each.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of neutron star physics
  • Familiarity with special relativity and velocity addition
  • Basic knowledge of black hole formation
  • Concept of mass-energy equivalence (E=mc²)
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  • Explore the implications of mass-energy calculations in astrophysics
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Astronomers, astrophysicists, and students interested in high-energy astrophysics and the dynamics of stellar collisions.

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Simply put, either by chance or a suicidal type-III Civilization, 2 neutron stars, or a neutron star an a large-ish main sequence star are thrown at each other and fall STRAIGHT into each other.
What happens? Does the ~1.4 C Newtonian impact speed result in them getting blown up and releasing their mass-energy into the universe? making a black hole? something else?

For the sake of consistency, let us assume that each neutron star is 2 Solar masses with a radius of 6 km, this also happens to be hovering on the edge of becoming a black hole. (pciked values arbitrarily, got 99.5C as escape velocity.)

By the way, preliminary calculations of the mass-energy of each seem to indicate a yield of 6.4E47 Joules, if that is what would happen.
 
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Note that neither star see's the other as approaching at 1.4 c due to the way velocities add in special relativity.

What would happen is that they would collide and turn into a black hole.
 
Drakkith said:
Note that neither star see's the other as approaching at 1.4 c due to the way velocities add in special relativity.

What would happen is that they would collide and turn into a black hole.

Hmm... I guess that upon contact, they would be nearly in the event horizon...

What about if they were insufficiently massive to do so, e.g. 1 solar mass each and the same radius as before?
 

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