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True identity of mysterious gamma-ray source revealed

A team of researchers used novel data analysis methods and Einstein@Home computing power to track down a neutron star's gamma-ray pulsations in NASA's Fermi Space Telescope data. The study reveals the existence of a rapidly rotating neutron star in orbit with a stellar companion about six times the mass of our Sun.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateFeb 3, 2021

Scientists complete yearlong pulsar timing study after reviving dormant radio telescopes

A team of scientists from Rochester Institute of Technology and Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomiá completed a yearlong pulsar timing study using two upgraded radio telescopes in Argentina. The observations provided accurate bounds to gravitational waves, increasing the sensitivity of existing pulsar timing arrays.

SourceRochester Institute of Technology·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateDec 21, 2020

APS tip sheet: High energy gamma rays

Scientists with the HAWC Collaboration have detected gamma-ray emissions at unprecedented energy levels above 56 TeV. The findings suggest the presence of Galactic accelerators, known as PeVatrons, which could be a new area of research for pulsars and supernova remnants.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 13, 2020

Russian astrophysicists discovered a neutron star with an unusual magnetic field structure

Scientists have discovered a unique neutron star with an apparent magnetic field structure that manifests itself under specific angles relative to the observer. The study provides insight into the internal structure of the magnetic field, contradicting earlier assumptions and revealing new properties of neutron stars.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateDec 9, 2019

Glitch in neutron star reveals its hidden secrets

Scientists have studied the Vela Pulsar, a neutron star 1,000 light years away, to understand its behavior during a glitch. The team found that the star's spin increased before slowing down, providing a glimpse into its interior structure, which consists of three different components.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateAug 12, 2019

The science and technology of FAST

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) has enabled groundbreaking discoveries in pulsar and neutral hydrogen observations. With its ultra-wideband capabilities, FAST allows for the study of rotating radio transients in greater detail than ever before.

Cosmic fireworks

Astronomers have discovered a rare gamma-ray binary system, allowing for the study of particle acceleration in a unique environment. The system, consisting of a massive star and a rapidly rotating neutron star, was detected emitting high-energy particles accelerated by its strong magnetic field.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateNov 15, 2018

Re-making planets after star-death

Astronomers Dr Jane Greaves and Dr Wayne Holland propose a new model for forming planets in the aftermath of a supernova explosion. They suggest that material caught up in the bow-wave around a moving neutron star could provide raw materials for future planet formation. Further data from ALMA is needed to confirm this theory.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 5, 2017