The Final Fate of Binary Neutron Stars: What Happens After the Merger?

TL;DR

This paper presents simulations of binary neutron star mergers, focusing on the formation and collapse of massive remnants into black holes, and discusses implications for short gamma-ray burst generation.

Contribution

It provides new simulation results on the post-merger evolution of neutron star remnants and their potential to produce gamma-ray bursts.

Findings

Remnants can be stabilized by differential rotation before collapsing.

Angular momentum transport leads to core collapse into black holes.

The scenario supports the formation of short gamma-ray bursts.

Abstract

The merger of two neutron stars usually produces a remnant with a mass significantly above the single (nonrotating) neutron star maximum mass. In some cases, the remnant will be stabilized against collapse by rapid, differential rotation. MHD-driven angular momentum transport eventually leads to the collapse of the remnant's core, resulting in a black hole surrounded by a massive accretion torus. Here we present simulations of this process. The plausibility of generating short duration gamma ray bursts through this scenario is discussed.