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X-ray bursts and neutron-star thermonuclear flashes

Abstract

Some of the properties of thermonuclear flashes that should occur in the surface layers of accreting neutron stars are investigated. Such flashes may account for many of the observed properties of X-ray burst sources. Helium seems to be the most promising type of nuclear fuel for producing flashes that result in X-ray bursts.

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Joss, P. X-ray bursts and neutron-star thermonuclear flashes. Nature 270, 310–314 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/270310a0

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