Astronomers have discovered a neutron star that emits radio radiation that challenges our theories – it rotates very slowly. Standard neutron stars rotate hundreds of times per second. The newly discovered star ASKAP J1935+2148 has a rotation period of 53.8 minutes. This cosmic oddity was discovered using the ASKAP telescope in the Wajarri Yamaji District of Western Australia and the MeerKAT radio observatory.
Experts found it A neutron star has three different emission states: A wave of radio waves lasting from 10 to 50 seconds; The weak pulse, which is 26 times weaker than before, lasts 370 milliseconds; The third state is the rest period.
The discovery of a candidate neutron star emitting radio pulses in this way is very unusual. The fact that the signal is repeated at such a slow rate is unique – said Dr. Manisha Kalb from the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Sydney.
What’s even more surprising is that over the course of eight months of research, three resurgences were seen developing. This is to indicate that What causes emissions to change over time.
– What’s interesting is that this object shows three distinct emission statesEach one has completely different characteristics from the others. The MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa played a major role in distinguishing these countries. Dr. Caleb added that if the signals were not coming from the same point in the sky, we would not believe that it was the same object emitting these different signals.
Astronomers do not have a perfect explanation for how neutron stars produce radio emission. Current theories can explain only part of this particular behavior.
Meanwhile, researchers stress that the “cosmic monster” does not have to be a neutron star. There is an alternative version that posits that there may be an unusual object A white dwarf with an extremely strong magnetic field. Such an object has not yet been documented, but its existence is possible.
Could be another solution Binary system It consists of two neutron stars, or a neutron star and a white dwarf. However, more research is needed to confirm this.
– It may even push us to do so Revisiting decades of knowledge about neutron stars Or white dwarfs. How do they emit radio waves and how many are there in our Milky Way Galaxy – concluded Dr. Caleb.
The results of the research were published in a scientific journal Nature astronomy.
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