In the "galactic cemetery" found a unique neutron star

An international team of astrophysicists led by Manisha Kaleb, who worked at the University of Manchester,

discovered an unusual neutron star, whichnamed PSR J0901-4046 after a single pulse recorded by the MeerKAT radio telescope. Further research using simultaneous sequential eight-second images of the sky confirmed the discovery.

Researchers note that PSR J0901-4046emits at least seven different types of pulses, some of which occur at regular intervals. The incoming bursts are similar at the same time to pulsars and magnetars with a very long period. In addition, scientists have recorded fast radio bursts - short bursts of radio emission in random places in the sky.

Neutron stars are extremelydense remnants of supernova explosions of massive stars. Scientists know about 3 thousand such stars in our Galaxy. However, as the researchers note, the new discovery is unlike anything seen before. Astrophysicists believe that PSR J0901-4046 may belong to a theoretical class of ultra-long period magnetars - stars with extremely strong magnetic fields.

Scientists note that the discovery was made in thata region of the galaxy in which no one expected to find a pulsation - in the "graveyard of neutron stars." In addition, the radiation is not always detectable.

Surprisingly, we detect radio emission fromthis source only during 0.5% of its rotation period. This means that we are lucky that the radio beam crossed with the Earth. It is likely that there are many more of these very slowly rotating stars in our galaxy, which is important for understanding how neutron stars are born and age.

Manisha Caleb, astrophysicist at the University of Sydney and study leader

The researchers say that the search for pulsars, astypically do not capture such long periods of rotation. Therefore, there can be much more stars like the one found. The researchers will continue to analyze the find to better understand the new class of neutron stars and find other members of this type.

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