Articles tagged with Pulsars
A rapidly spinning neutron star, SAX J1808.4-3658, is providing proof for the theory that millisecond pulsars are propelled to mind-boggling speeds by accretion of material from a companion star. This discovery fills an important niche in our understanding of star evolution.
Cornell University astronomers James Cordes and Barney Rickett have developed a method to calculate the speed and distance of extremely fast-moving neutron stars, called pulsars, by analyzing their twinkling rate. By combining data from two large radio telescopes, they can identify new pulsars and better understand their physics.
A NASA scientist has found a new puzzle in the sky, an X-ray pulsar that appears to burst twice every 'year' rather than once. Colleen Wilson discovered GRO J2058+42, which has no visible component and exhibits unusual behavior, suggesting it may be a binary star system with a type Be star and a neutron star in a lopsided orbit.
Researchers found that accreting pulsars exhibit strange behavior, including gaining and losing time, due to mass transfer from stellar companions. This phenomenon is caused by the negative torque experienced by the pulsar, which affects its spin rate.
A team of scientists discovered that the Pioneer 10 spacecraft detected a radio signal modulation mimicking a planet's orbit around PSR B1257+12. The analysis reveals that solar rotation causes similar variations in the pulsar's radio waves, effectively simulating the planet.
The Arecibo Observatory has completed a $25 million upgrade, increasing its sensitivity by a factor of about 20 for radar studies of the solar system. The new system will allow scientists to listen into cellular phone calls on Venus and detect steel golf balls at moon distances.