Astronomers have “photographed” the magnetic field in the acceleration zone of the Vela pulsar. They used mission data
When a huge star dies, it explodes likesupernova and its core becomes a pulsar—a very small, rapidly rotating, magnetized star. Typically, this type of object is donut shaped. Due to the magnetic field, it creates gas clouds around it - a nebula. It has an “acceleration zone,” where cosmic particles are accelerated when they are pushed by the pulsar wind. And as part of the new work, researchers visualized the magnetic field associated with the acceleration zone of the Vela pulsar.
Heat map of IXPE PWN Vela in the range 2–8keV with superimposed measured X-ray and radio polarization vectors. Source: Nature (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05476-5
Directly make magnetic fieldimpossible, because it is invisible. Therefore, astronomers record the light emitted by accelerating particles. It is generated when magnetic fields change the movement of particles as their speed increases. Previous research has shown that emitted photons vibrate primarily in only one direction—perpendicular to the magnetic field. This means that measuring the direction of vibration shows the polarization of the radiation; with its help, you can track the direction of the magnetic field.
In a new study, scientists discovered Vela polarization using IXPE data. So they created images that show how the magnetic field illuminates the area around the pulsar.
Read more:
The tomb of the “midwife of Jesus” was unearthed: scientists told what they found there
Einstein is wrong again and his main theory was rewritten: how it changes the world
Published test video of the world's first propeller with 11 blades
On the cover: artist's concept of a pulsar, NASA