On the Nature of Strong Radio Sources

Abstract

The events leading to strong radio emission are taken to originate in the nucleus of a galaxy. But instead of outbursts from a large number of stars of ordinary mass, the possibility is considered of the existence at the very centre of a stellar-type object of large mass. The evolution of such an object is considered. After hydrogen burning and helium burning, neutrino emission leads to a collapse that initiates an explosive burning of oxygen. The star then disintegrates at a speed of 5000 km sec ⁻¹ or more. Our preference, however, is not for this final outburst as the process leading to radio emission. Rather do we prefer, analogously to the case of the solar system, the process of formation in which angular momentum is transferred from the central star to a surrounding disk of gas.