Evidence of a magnetic field has been found in an eclipsing pulsar

Researchers from the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory (XAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made an important discovery by measuring the magnetic field of a “spider pulsar” called PSR J2051-0827.

These pulsars are binary systems of millisecond pulsars with low-mass companions in short-period orbits, and in spider pulsars, pulsar winds and electromagnetic emission can destroy the companions.

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investigation

• Using the Five Hundred Meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), researchers investigated the polarization properties of the pulsar PSR J2051-0827 and found direct evidence of a magnetic field in the medium during the eclipse of this pulsar;
• During the exit from the eclipse of PSR J2051-0827, they observed a regular dip in “Rotation measurement“(RM), the measurement of the magnetic field, which changed from 60 to -28.7 radm raised to -2;
• This regular decrease in MR indicates the presence of a large magnetic field in the medium during the eclipse;
• Based on the magnetic resonance anisotropy, the researchers estimated that the strength of the magnetic field along the line-of-sight path was 0.1 Ge.

According to the Phys.orgAn interesting aspect is that taking into account the magnetic field levels present in the medium during the eclipse, the researchers suggested that cyclotron suppression, the process by which the magnetic field affects radio frequency emission, may not be the primary mechanism during the eclipse. Eclipse in the L band. In addition, the researchers also discovered the phenomenon of MR reflection.

This phenomenon may be due to a change in magnetic field strength along the line of sight due to the binary orbital motion. This discovery provides interesting evidence of the existence of a complex magnetic environment around this pulsating source.

The results suggest that the environments of spider pulsars have some similarities to fast radio bursts (FRBs), astrophysical phenomena that are still not well understood.

The results of this research were published in the famous scientific journal Astrophysical Journal on September 14 and contribute to developing knowledge about these pulsars and their magnetic environments.