Astronomers have made a significant discovery using cutting-edge radio telescopes, discovering 10 new pulsars within Terzan 5, a dense globular cluster in the constellation Sagittarius.
These findings are the result of a collaboration between the National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory’s MeerKAT telescope and were published in the journal Nature. Astronomy and Astrophysics.
This discovery not only increases the number of known pulsars in this cluster, but also provides greater insight into the nature and behavior of these alien beings.
New neutron star emerges in dense star cluster
Terzan 5is a vibrant globular cluster located at the center of the Milky Way galaxy and made up of hundreds of thousands of stars. Pulsaris a rapidly spinning neutron star that emits bright pulses of light from its magnetic field and is extraordinarily dense, millions or even billions of times denser than a normal star.
Prior to this discovery, astronomers had already identified 39 pulsars. Terzan 5The addition of 10 more pulsars highlights the complexity of this cluster and the unusual conditions that allow such exotic objects to form and persist.
Scott Ransom,scientist NSF National Institute of Radiologywas excited about the discovery, saying, “Finding an unusual new pulsar is very unusual. But what’s really exciting is the presence of such a wide variety of strange things in a single cluster.” This diversity highlights the unique evolutionary path of these pulsars, shaped by their dense and dynamic environment. Terzan 5 It provides a rich hunting ground for pulsars, and the interactions and gravitational influences of pulsars within the cluster cause them to take on diverse and unusual properties.
Detailed observation and analysis
MeerKAT Telescope It played a key role in pinpointing their location and rotation speed. PulsarBased on 20 years of data, NSF Green Bank Telescope (GBT)This collaboration enabled astronomers to map the pulsar’s location, track its orbit, and reveal intricate details about its behavior and characteristics. The research team used precise measurements of the pulsar’s timing to understand the pulsar’s rotational dynamics and how its orbit changes over time.
“Without the NSF Green Bank Telescope archives, we would never have been able to characterize these pulsars and understand their astrophysics,” Ransom added. NSF GBT These observations were essential in confirming the identity of pulsars and understanding their unique astrophysical properties. They provided a clearer picture of the evolution of their positions and orbits within the cluster, contributing to a deeper understanding of pulsar formation and evolution.
Discovery of neutron binary stars
Among the newly discovered pulsars, astronomers have identified two possible Neutron Star in Binary system. Of the 3,600 known pulsars in the Milky Way Galaxy, only 20 have been confirmed as double neutron star binaries. These systems form when gravity between the stars causes one pulsar to spin even faster, Millisecond PulsarThis newly discovered pair may set the record for the fastest rotating pulsar in a double neutron star system and the longest orbit for a pulsar of its kind.
Binary Pulsar System They offer a unique opportunity to study the effects of strong gravity and relativistic physics: when pulsars pair in binary systems, gravitational interactions transfer matter and angular momentum from one star to the other, resulting in rapid rotation rates and complex orbital dynamics.
The current record holder for the fastest spinning pulsar is: Terzan 5This new discovery adds another member to a remarkable group of pulsars in this cluster. “Future observations will tell us the truth,” Ransom said, emphasizing that continued monitoring is needed to fully understand these systems.
Discovery of the Spider Pulsar
In addition to Neutron Binary StarsAstronomers also observed three new unusual binary systems known as spider pulsars. These systems are classified as “redbacks” or “black widows” depending on the companion star, and are characterized by the pulsar gradually eating away at the companion star through a web of plasma generated by the pulsar’s energy. These interactions provide valuable insights into the extreme environments and dynamics of such binary systems.
Spider Pulsar Pulsars are particularly interesting because of their complex interactions with their companion stars: the energy released by the pulsar strips material from the companion star, creating a plasma cloud that envelops both stars. This process Dramatic Changes in Pulsar Rotation The changes in speed and magnetic field mean that the discovery of this spider pulsar, along with other new pulsars, will improve our understanding of different types of pulsars and the environments they live in. These discoveries also provide an opportunity to test and extend existing theories of stellar evolution and the behavior of neutron stars.
