All posts tagged: pulsars

FAST Telescope Reveals Emission Properties of Three Long-Period Pulsars in New Study

FAST Telescope Reveals Emission Properties of Three Long-Period Pulsars in New Study

Published by Webster

The emission properties of three long-period pulsars have been observed through the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). Detailed findings of the study highlight various pulsar emission behaviours, including null phases, asymmetric emissions, and microstructure pulses. The research, conducted as part of the Commensal Radio Astronomy FAST Survey (CRAFTS), aimed to deepen the understanding of pulsar magnetospheric activity and emission mechanisms. The pulsars under examination—PSR J1945+1211, PSR J2323+1214, and PSR J1900−0134—were observed across a frequency range of 1.05 to 1.45 GHz using FAST’s 19-beam receiver. These observations provided crucial insights into the nature of their radio pulses and periodicity. Observations of Pulsar Null Phases According to the study published on the arXiv preprint server, quasi-periodic nulling phenomena were detected in all three pulsars, with durations varying from 57 to 71.44 seconds. The null fractions for PSR J1945+1211, PSR J2323+1214, and PSR J1900−0134 were determined to be 52.46 percent, 48.48 percent, and 27.51 percent, respectively. Nulling, which refers to temporary reductions or cessations in emission, is a key characteristic observed in pulsars and is essential for …

Arecibo Observatory Data Helps SETI Uncover Secrets of Pulsar Signals and Cosmic Distortions

Arecibo Observatory Data Helps SETI Uncover Secrets of Pulsar Signals and Cosmic Distortions

Published by Webster

Years after the collapse of the Arecibo Observatory, its extensive datasets remain instrumental in advancing astronomical research. In a study led by Sofia Sheikh from the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute, data from the observatory was utilised to uncover new details about pulsar signals. These dense neutron stars emit beams of radiation likened to “cosmic lighthouses,” and their signals undergo distortions as they traverse the interstellar medium. Findings from this research were published in The Astrophysical Journal on November 26. Pulsar Signals and Interstellar Scintillation The study explored how pulsar signals are affected by interstellar gas and dust. Researchers investigated 23 pulsars, including six previously unstudied, revealing insights into distortive phenomena called diffractive interstellar scintillation (DISS). This phenomenon, which resembles the rippling patterns caused by light passing through water, is attributed to interactions between pulsar signals and charged particles in space. The Role of Arecibo’s Archival Data The now-defunct Arecibo radio telescope, once spanning 305 metres, collapsed in December 2020 due to cable failures. Despite its destruction, the data collected over decades continues to …