Pulsars are rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation. The fastest spinning pulsars with a spin period of less than 30 milliseconds are known as millisecond pulsars (MSPs). MSPs are thought to form in binary systems when an initially more massive object becomes a neutron star, which then spins up due to the accretion of material from the secondary star.
The new pulsar was discovered using the 64-meter Parkes radio telescope in Australia. Astronomers studied a newly discovered point radio source (designated G359.13142-0.2000) in the radio filament G359.1-0.2, or Snake.
The pulsar PSR J1744-2946 is located at a distance of about 27.4 thousand light years. It has a rotation period of 8.39 milliseconds and a measure of dispersion, characterizing the number of electrons along the line of sight from the observer to the object, 673.7 parsecs per cubic centimeter. It is in a binary system with an orbital period of approximately 4.8 hours. The mass of the companion object is less than 0.05 solar masses.
It is noted that PSR J1744-2946 may be associated with Snake. If this is confirmed, then it will be possible to assume that pulsars can illuminate radio filaments in the galactic center.
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2024-04-23 23:31:34