Astronomers discover an unusual pulsar blinking in slow motion

Discovered pulsar blinks every 41 seconds, smaller than typical pulsars, potentially linking fast and slow-spinning radio sources.

: Astronomers have discovered a pulsar named PSR J0311+1402 that flashes every 41 seconds, an extraordinary finding since pulsars typically spin much faster, emitting radio signals more frequently. This discovery, using the new CRACO system at the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, may bridge the knowledge gap between fast and slow-spinning pulsars, known as long-period transients. Scientists, led by Yuanming Wang, are excited as this technique allows for the detection of previously hidden cosmic objects, expanding our understanding of neutron stars. The research challenges existing theories about pulsar emissions and could reveal more about neutron star populations.

In an exciting astronomical development, scientists have discovered a pulsar, designated as PSR J0311+1402, that emits a flash every 41 seconds. This slow-binking pulsar, found 2,600 light-years away, challenges the typical nature of pulsars, which generally spin much faster, often flashing tens of thousands of times per minute. The pulsar, identified by Yuanming Wang and his team at Swinburne University through the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), is believed to serve as a potential 'missing link' that bridges the gap between traditional pulsars and rare long-period transients that flash less frequently.

Typically, pulsars are the remnants of massive stars that explode as supernovae, leaving behind neutron stars that spin rapidly and emit beams of radiation. If these beams point towards Earth, they are observed as pulsations. Although pulsars gradually slow down, conventional wisdom holds they require a minimum spin rate to sustain their emissions—referred to as the 'pulsar death line.' However, PSR J0311+1402 defies this expectation.

Yuanming Wang emphasizes the significance of their discovery, stating, "It’s incredibly exciting to discover such a long-period pulsar." The discovery utilized the CRACO system at ASKAP, tailored to capture signals in the 'blind spot' not efficiently observed by either single telescopes or interferometric arrays due to their respective constraints with detecting slow and fast pulsations.

The enigmatic nature of PSR J0311+1402's emissions raises questions about the existing models that explain pulsar radio emissions solely as a function of rotational energy. Wang notes the anomaly, stating, "It doesn’t fit neatly into the leading theory of how pulsars emit radio waves," suggesting that an alternative or supplementary power source might be assisting these emissions.

Michelle Collins from the University of Surrey, not part of the study, highlights the broader implications of this discovery. She suggests this could be the viewing point of "the tip of the iceberg," with more long-period neutron stars yet to be found, thanks to evolving radio observation technology.

Sources: Astronomy Magazine, Ashley Balzer Vigil, Yuanming Wang, Michelle Collins

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