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Massive Diamond Found Orbiting Pulsar

Posted by timothy on from the think-of-the-street-value-of-this-mountain dept.

HairyNevus writes "A recent survey of pulsars has revealed a fascinating discovery of a millisecond pulsar in system PSR J17191438 that has stripped a nearby white dwarf star down to its very core. Although no longer visible, is still has the mass of Jupiter. The remaining core rotates its neutron star companion with a period of just under 2 hours, indicating extremely close proximity. Given this distance, scientists have calculated that the substance of the core must be very compact, and, without building up the point, they conclude it is made of diamond. One thing I found misleading about the article is that it refers to the core as having 'the size of Jupiter' and 'the mass of Jupiter.' Given their different densities (diamond vs. mostly helium), it would seem clear that their size (i.e. volume) differs."

13 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. Better Press Release by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Informative

    One thing I found misleading about the article is that it refers to the core as having 'the size of Jupiter' and 'the mass of Jupiter.'

    Here's the correct Science Journal link and here is a better press release from the Max Planck Institute that clarifies:

    For the newly discovered pulsar, known as PSR J1719-1438, the astronomers noticed that the arrival times of the pulses were systematically modulated and concluded that this is due to the gravitational pull of a small orbiting companion, a planet. These modulations can tell astronomers several more things about the companion. First, it orbits the pulsar in just two hours and ten minutes, and the distance between the two objects is 600,000 km - a little bit less than the radius of our Sun. Second, the companion is so close to the pulsar that if its diameter was any larger than 60,000 km (less than half the diameter of Jupiter) it would be ripped apart by the gravity of the pulsar.

    So it appears that the article saying "size equivalent to Jupiter" (volume?) is wrong if the Max Planck Institute is correct in saying that its diameter has to be less than half the diameter of Jupiter.

    --
    My work here is dung.
  2. damn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now my wife will want it

    1. Re:damn by Dunbal · · Score: 3, Funny

      Too bad, DeBeers already bought it. Gotta keep those diamonds out of the wrong hands.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  3. Diamonds are not rare, not even on Earth. by Kenja · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Regardless of what the De Beers group wants you to think, diamonds are not that rare. Carbon is the most common element around.

    Still, its kinda nifty to see such a large chunk of the stuff.

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    1. Re:Diamonds are not rare, not even on Earth. by Riceballsan · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Well they are actually rediculously common, were it not for a very very large percentage of the supply in the hands of a handfull of companies, and making a perfect undetectable forgery of a diamond is extremely easy with the right equipment. Without the right lobying and rules, forcing all manufactured diamonds to have a watermark to be distinguished as "fake", and having the actual supply in control of a handful of companies that intentionally release the supply slowly to keep demand high, Diamonds could easilly become cheaper then copper.

    2. Re:Diamonds are not rare, not even on Earth. by newcastlejon · · Score: 3, Funny

      Perhaps the parent meant on Earth, but that's also wrong, or perhaps they meant just the crust... nope, still wrong. Or maybe it's the entire Universe? Nope, distant fourth.

      Care to enlighten us Kenja?

      --
      If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
    3. Re:Diamonds are not rare, not even on Earth. by idontgno · · Score: 3, Funny

      I bet he meant that carbon is the most abundant element in diamonds. That's pretty much true.

      --
      Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
  4. Obligatory by Ironchew · · Score: 4, Funny

    These planets are a diamond dozen.

  5. Time for a renaming... by Zephyn · · Score: 5, Funny

    We've just got to name the pulsar "Lucy" now.

  6. This isn't diamond the way you're thinking by MMORG · · Score: 3, Informative

    This isn't diamond in any sense that we usualy think of it. Yes, it's carbon atoms, and yes, they're "crystallized", but the core of a white dwarf is composed mostly of electron-degnerate matter where all of the electrons have been disassociated from their parent atoms and all the nuclei clump together, floating in a sea of electrons. This stuff has a density of roughly 1000 kilograms (2,200 lbs) per cubic centimeter. I imagine it would *catastrophically* decompress if you could teleport a chunk of it back to earth. It's not diamond.

    1. Re:This isn't diamond the way you're thinking by LordLimecat · · Score: 3, Funny

      I imagine it would *catastrophically* decompress if you could teleport a chunk of it back to earth

      I imagine people would pay to see that; I know I would.

  7. Ooohhhh!! by jamiesan · · Score: 4, Funny

    PSR J1719-1438 went to Jared.

  8. Re:Is it really diamond? by Xylantiel · · Score: 4, Informative

    The answer is no it is not diamond.

    One issue is the one you point out, that the correct crystalline structure at high densities/pressures is not a diamond lattice. There is also the pesky fact that the inner portions of white dwarf stars are made of carbon and oxygen.

    One could actually go on and on because diamond is a covalently bonded crystal, while this stuff will be a degenerate electron gas containing an ionic crystal, much more like a crystalline metal.

    I study white dwarf stars for a living (yes really) and calling this stuff diamond is just idiotic.