Scientists at the H.E.S.S. Observatory in Namibia have made an exciting breakthrough in the study of pulsars, claiming to have detected the largest burst ever recorded from a neutron star. The burst came from a pulsar known as Vela and emitted gamma-rays with energies 10 trillion times more energetic than visible light.
This discovery is groundbreaking because the bursts recorded were 200 times more energetic than any pulsar beam previously documented. It challenges previous knowledge of pulsars and requires a rethinking of how these natural accelerators work.
Pulsars are incredibly dense and feature a highly active magnetosphere, from which electrons are ejected in a beam from one of the star’s poles. These jets of energy then appear as flashes in regular intervals as the pulsar spins, resembling a lighthouse.
One teaspoon of pulsar material has a mass of over five billion tonnes, highlighting their extreme density. Pulsars are primarily made up of neutrons and their magnetic fields are so strong that they can accelerate particles to nearly the speed of light.
Previous research conducted in August revealed another interesting characteristic of pulsars. A pulsar named J1023 was found to switch between two modes: emitting high frequency visible light, ultraviolet light, and X-rays, and emitting lower frequency radio waves. During the lower frequency mode, matter falls toward the pulsar’s surface and is pushed back out through its jet. This process heats up the matter surrounding the star and triggers the higher frequency mode.
The detection of the largest ever recorded burst from a pulsar sheds new light on the behavior and capabilities of these cosmic objects. It is a testament to the advancements in observational technology and the dedication of scientists in unraveling the mysteries of the universe.
The findings of this study have opened new avenues of research and have sparked excitement among the scientific community. With further studies, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of pulsars and their role in the formation and evolution of galaxies.
Swerd Media will continue to follow this exciting development in the field of astrophysics and keep our readers updated on the latest discoveries and breakthroughs.
