Astronomers have discovered a puzzling celestial object that challenges everything we know about neutron stars. This mysterious pulsar, named ASKAP J1839-0756, emits radio waves at intervals of 6.45 hours—the slowest rotation period ever recorded. For decades, scientists believed that pulsars emitting such slow signals were undetectable, but this groundbreaking discovery proves otherwise.
Experts argue that this pulsar’s behavior is unlike anything they have observed before.
ASKAP J1839-0756 is a neutron star—a superdense remnant left behind after a massive star explodes in a supernova. Pulsars like this one act as cosmic lighthouses, emitting regular pulses of radio waves as they spin. These signals can be detected from Earth and have long served as key tools for studying the universe.
Breaking the Limits of Known Physics
Traditionally, pulsars are known for their rapid rotation, completing hundreds of spins per second. Over time, they slow down, eventually becoming too faint to detect. Astronomers have long assumed that pulsars with rotation periods exceeding two minutes would be too weak to emit detectable radio signals. However, ASKAP J1839-0756 shatters this assumption, emitting strong signals with gaps of over six hours between them.
The object’s unusual behavior suggests it could belong to a rare category of neutron stars known as magnetars. These highly magnetized stars are capable of producing intense bursts of energy, but even magnetars typically emit signals on much shorter timescales.
Adding to the intrigue, the team also detected weaker secondary pulses, known as interpulses, between the primary signals. This rare phenomenon occurs when a neutron star’s magnetic and rotational axes are misaligned.
What Are Long-Period Radio Transients?
The discovery of ASKAP J1839-0756 shines a spotlight on a mysterious class of celestial objects known as long-period radio transients. Unlike typical pulsars, these objects emit slow, periodic signals that defy conventional theories.
One well-known example is GLEAM-X J0704-37, which was revealed to be a binary system involving a red dwarf and a white dwarf. However, ASKAP J1839-0756’s signals cannot be explained by a similar pairing. The absence of a red dwarf in its vicinity, combined with the sheer strength of its magnetic field, points to an entirely different origin.
Located 13,000 light-years away, ASKAP J1839-0756’s signal is exceptionally strong for its distance. This raises new questions about the limits of neutron star physics and the broader mechanisms driving long-period radio transients.
Despite intensive observation, astronomers have found no evidence of X-ray emissions, which are typically associated with magnetars. The object’s unique properties suggest it could represent a previously unknown category of stellar remnants.
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