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

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.

arXiv comment3 pages. To appear in the Proceedings of the Eleventh Marcel Grossmann Meeting, Berlin, Germany, 23-29 July 2006, World Scientific, Singapore (2007)