International research led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany has uncovered a universal scaling law that applies to pulsars, magnetars, and potentially fast radio bursts (FRBs). Neutron stars, which are the collapsed cores of massive stars, are the most compact matter in the observable Universe, with over 3000 observed as radio pulsars. Magnetars, a small subset of neutron stars with magnetic fields 1000 times stronger than regular pulsars, emit radio emissions.
The research team focused on studying the individual pulses of magnetars and discovered sub-structures that resemble those seen in other neutron star sources. This prompted the researchers to investigate the relationship between the timescales of magnetars and other types of neutron stars, which they found followed the same universal relationship, scaling with rotation period. The team’s findings suggest that the inherent origin of subpulse structure is consistent across all radio-loud neutron stars, shedding light on the plasma process responsible for radio emission.
Additionally, the team suggests that their discovery could provide a connection to FRBs. FRBs are energetic and mysterious radio signals that reach Earth from distant galaxies, and their origins have remained largely unknown. However, the substructure observed in FRBs may potentially reveal the rotation period of the underlying magnetar source, offering insights into the nature of these enigmatic bursts.
The study relied on data collected from the Effelsberg 100-m telescope and other 100-m class radio telescopes located worldwide. By analyzing these observations, the researchers were able to establish the universal scaling law that governs the behavior of pulsars, magnetars, and potentially FRBs.
The research findings have been published in the journal Nature Astronomy, further contributing to our understanding of neutron stars and the enigmatic phenomena they produce. This universal scaling law provides a new perspective on the behavior of these celestial objects and the underlying plasma processes responsible for their radio emissions. The potential link to FRBs opens up exciting prospects for unraveling the mysteries behind these high-energy bursts. As scientists continue to explore the depths of space and unlock its secrets, discoveries like these bring us closer to understanding the fundamental principles that govern the Universe.
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