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Illustration of the Pulsar PSR J1023+0038 showing the central Pulsar and around it. | Credit: Marco Maria Messa, University of Milan/Inaf-OAB; Maria Cristina Bagley, Inaf-Oab
Astronomers have learned that radiation emitted by a fast -turning neutron star, or Pulsar, is predominant by the effect of its powerful particles, not the material she pulls out of the companion’s star.
The Pulsar PSR J1023+0038 (J1023), which is located in a binary system located in 4,500 light -years from the ground, is discussed. This binary consists of a “dead star” or a neutron star, spins about 600 times per second, as well as a small mass star on which the neutron star “feeds”.
The rapid J1023 rotation classifies it as a millisecond pulsar, but because it clearly transitions between an active state of feeding and blowing radiation fibers from its poles – and inactive state, that is, a rare subclass, called “transition from the millisecund impulse.” One of the three well -known transitional grinders pulsates, J1023 is an invaluable target for astronomers.
“Transitional pulsars are a space laboratory that helps us understand how neutron stars develop in binary systems,” said Maria Cristina Bagley, a team leader and researcher at the National Astrophysics Institute (INAF). “J1023 is a particularly valuable source of data because it clearly transitions from his active state in which he feeds on his companion’s star and in a calmer state of behaving as a standard pulsar, radio waves.”
This question that this neutron star pulls out of its companion does not fall directly to the dead star surface, and instead form a flattened cloud or a stroke cloud or a “accredited disk”. When this disc rotates around the neutron star, gradually feeding it, it emits powerful radiation, which consists of wavelengths throughout the electromagnetic spectrum.
Thus, The Team Was Able to Examine J1023 Using Nasa’s Imaging X-Ray Polaimetry Explorer (IXPE), The European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) In Northern Chile, and the Karl G. Jansky Very) Making this First Survey of Binary X-Ray Source Over the X-Ray, Optical and Radio Bands of the Electromagnetic spectrum.
“During the observations, the Pulsar was operating in a low luminality phase, characterized by fast changes between the different levels of x-ray,” Baglio said.
Illustration of the rapidly rotating neutron star or Pulsar. | Credit: Robert Lea (created with Canva)/NASA
After evaluating the J1023 of the three lanes of the electromagnetic spectrum, the team allowed the team to determine the polarization of this pulsar radiation. Polarization means the orientation of light waves when they spread.
In particular, IXPE observed that 12% of X -rays from J1023 are polarized. It is the highest level of polarization ever seen from such a binary star system.
Radio waves and optical light discharge showed correspondingly less 2% and 1% polarization. The optical polarization that it was focused in the same direction as the X -ray polarization angle was particularly interesting. This indicates the overall x -ray polarization mechanism and polarization of optical light.
The results confirm the previous theory that shows the observed emissions of binary systems such as J1023, when the winds of pulsaries, the flow of high -energy charged particles flowing from these dead stars.
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This study could finally help scientists understand the powers pulsating, and it would not have been possible without IXPE sensitivity.
“This observation, given the low x-ray intensity, was extremely complicated, but IXPE sensitivity allowed us to be confidently detected and evaluated by this amazing coordination of optical and x-ray polarization,” said Alessandro Di Marco, a team member and Inaf researcher. “This study is an inventive way to check the theoretical scenario thanks to polarim observations at several waves of long -term.”
The team investigation was published on July 1st. In the Astrophysical Journal.