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The pulsar rotates about 15,000 times more slowly around its axis than the fastest pulsar we know.
Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that appear when large stars reach the end of their life and explode. After this explosion, there remains a mass of matter about 20 kilometers wide and of extremely high density. We call this obstruction material a pulsar and it turns very fast around its own axis (the fastest pulsar we know only requires 1.4 milliseconds (!) To complete a circle around its own axis).
] Using the LOFAR telescope – whose heart is in Drente – the researchers discovered a new pulsar. And this pulsar – unlike the pulsars that have been found until now – is not in a hurry. It takes 23.5 seconds for the neutron star to complete one revolution and is about 15,000 times slower than the fastest pulsar we know. It is also almost three times slower than the slowest pulsar we know of: a sample requiring 8.5 seconds to complete a circle around its own axis.
Lighthouse
While pulsars revolve around their axis, they emit electromagnetic radiation. This is why we sometimes compare a pulsar to a lighthouse that lets light pulses pass over the sea. The pulse frequency of a pulsar is related to the speed of rotation. "This pulsar works so slowly that we can really see the pulsar," says researcher Cees Bassa. "This is not possible with fast pulsars."
A Challenge
According to astronomers, the slow pulsar is about 14 million years old, but it still has a strong magnetic field. "This pulsar was completely unexpected," says researcher Jason Hessels. "We are still a little surprised that the pulsar is spinning so slowly and sending out radio signals.The radiopulsors may seem to be slomer than expected.This pulsar defies many dominant theories."
Researchers hope to find even more slow pulsars in the future. In addition, they intend to further investigate the slow copy that they discovered using the XMM Newton Space Telescope. With this telescope, it is possible to determine if the pulsar also emits X-rays. If this is the case, researchers may be able to learn more about the history of the slow pulsar.
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