GPM J1839−10[1] is a potentially unique[2] ultra-long period magnetar[3][4] located about 15,000 light-years away from Earth in the Scutum constellation, in the Milky Way. It was discovered by a team of scientists at Curtin University using the Murchison Widefield Array.[5][6] Its unusual characteristics violate current theory and prompted a search of other radio telescope archives, including the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope and the Very Large Array, which revealed evidence of the object dating back to 1988.[5] The signature of the object went unnoticed because scientists did not know to look for its unusual behavior.[5]

The current understanding of neutron stars is that below a certain rate of rotation, called "the death line", they cease emissions. Uniquely, not only does GPM J1839−10 have an extremely slow rotation of approximately twenty-two minutes, it emits bursts of radio waves lasting up to five minutes, for which there is currently no generally accepted explanation.[5][4][6][7][8]

See also

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ N. Hurley-Walker; N. Rea; S. J. McSweeney (19 July 2023). "A long-period radio transient active for three decades". Nature. 619 (619): 487–490. Bibcode:2023Natur.619..487H. doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06202-5. PMID 37468588. S2CID 259977730.
  2. ↑ Timmer, John (19 July 2023). "Something in space has been lighting up every 20 minutes since 1988". Ars Technica.
  3. ↑ P. Beniamini; Z. Wadiasingh; B. D. Metzger (2020). "Periodicity in recurrent fast radio bursts and the origin of ultralong period magnetars". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (published 23 June 2020). 496 (496): 3390–3401. arXiv:2003.12509. doi:10.1093/mnras/staa1783.
  4. 1 2 P. Beniamini; Z. Wadiasingh; J. Hare; K. M. Rajwade; G. Younes; A. J. van der Horst (2023). "Evidence for an abundant old population of Galactic ultra-long period magnetars and implications for fast radio bursts". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (published 20 January 2023). 520 (2): 1872–1894. arXiv:2210.09323. doi:10.1093/mnras/stad208.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Strickland, Ashley (20 July 2023). "Unusual type of stellar object discovered beaming out radio waves". CNN. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Hiding in plain sight, astronomers find new type of stellar object". International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research. 19 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Bizarre 'slow' neutron star challenges our theories about dead stars". Space.com. 19 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "NRL Astronomers Track New Stellar Phenomenon" (Press release). 19 July 2023.


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