A breakthrough discovery by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC) and their international collaborators has shed new light on the enigmatic world of pulsars. Utilizing the cutting-edge Five-hundred-meter Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), the researchers have identified a binary pulsar system with an orbital period of an astonishingly short 53 minutes. Referred to as PSR J1953+1844 or M71E, this system has unveiled a critical piece of the puzzle in our comprehension of spider pulsar system evolution.
The implications of this achievement were recently unveiled through a publication in the esteemed journal Nature.
Pulsars, captivating celestial objects that emulate spinning tops in the heavens, were first unearthed in 1967. With approximately 3,000 of these intriguing entities having been cataloged thus far, these rapidly rotating entities have been a subject of profound interest.
Certain pulsars inhabit binary systems, wherein they are in orbit alongside companion stars. If the proximity between the two stars is significant, the pulsar devours material from its companion, perpetuating its spin. At the outset, the companion star bears substantial mass. However, as the pulsar engulfs its partner, the stars draw closer, engaging in an orbital dance of escalating velocity. In contrast, as the companion star loses mass and becomes less weighty, the pulsar’s ability to plunder diminishes, consequently nudging the companion star away. This sequence of events, akin to female spiders consuming their male counterparts, has evoked the naming of these stages as redback and black widow, respectively, collectively referred to as spider pulsars.
The progression from redback to black widow unfolds over extended periods—possibly hundreds of millions of years. Previously, observations had solely pinpointed binary pulsar systems in the redback and black widow configurations, with no transitional states detected. This absence was attributed to the projected short orbital period of the intermediate pulsar, rendering it challenging to observe due to its close stellar proximity. Consequently, the evolutionary theory delineating the shift from redback to black widow within spider pulsar systems remained unverified.
The validation of this theoretical framework has now materialized through the instrumentation of FAST, a radio telescope renowned as the world’s most extensive and sensitive of its kind. By engaging in protracted observations, the research team identified a spider pulsar system boasting an orbital period of a mere 53 minutes—a record-setting brevity. Drawing from multiple observational cues, the scientists concluded that this system occupied an intermediate state along the evolutionary path from redback to black widow. This triumph has finally filled the void in the spider pulsar evolution narrative.
Jiang Peng from NAOC, a co-corresponding author of the study, commented, “The binary’s orbital plane is almost directly facing us—such a configuration is exceedingly rare. FAST’s remarkable detection capabilities brought this discovery to light amidst the vast expanse of stars. This achievement not only bridges the gap in spider pulsar system evolution but also underscores the unparalleled sensitivity of FAST.”
Experts in the field, reviewing the findings, remarked upon the discovery as a “highly intriguing pulsar binary system.” By curtailing the record for the shortest pulsar binary system orbital period by around 30%, this revelation alludes to an uncharted mechanism within spider pulsar evolution.
The scholarly article, titled “A binary pulsar in a 53-minute orbit,” was authored by Z. Pan, J. G. Lu, P. Jiang, J. L. Han, H.-L. Chen, Z. W. Han, K. Liu, L. Qian, R. X. Xu, B. Zhang, J. T. Luo, Z. Yan, Z. L. Yang, D. J. Zhou, P. F. Wang, C. Wang, M. H. Li, and M. Zhu. It was published on June 20, 2023, in Nature with the reference DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06308-w.
This accomplishment was a result of collaborative efforts involving institutions such as Guizhou University, the Yunnan Astronomical Observatory, the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, the National Time Service Center, Peking University, the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Max Planck Institute in Germany, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Spider Pulsar Evolution
What did the scientists discover regarding spider pulsars and their evolution?
The scientists, in collaboration with international partners, utilized the FAST telescope to identify a binary pulsar system named PSR J1953+1844 or M71E. This system, with an orbital period of just 53 minutes, fills a crucial gap in our understanding of spider pulsar evolution.
How do pulsars in binary systems behave?
Pulsars in binary systems interact with companion stars. If the stars are close, the pulsar consumes material, leading to closer orbits and faster rotation. As the companion star loses mass, the pulsar can no longer “feed” and pushes the star away, slowing its orbital speed.
Why were intermediate stages in spider pulsar evolution challenging to detect?
The predicted short orbital period and close distance between stars in the intermediate stage posed observational challenges. Previous observations had only identified redback and black widow states, leaving the intermediate stage unconfirmed.
How did the FAST telescope contribute to this discovery?
The Five-hundred-meter Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), known for its sensitivity, detected a binary pulsar system with an unprecedentedly short 53-minute orbital period. This observation, along with various cues, confirmed the intermediate stage in spider pulsar evolution.
What significance does this discovery hold?
This discovery validates the theory of spider pulsar evolution by revealing the missing link between redback and black widow states. It sheds light on the complex processes shaping these celestial objects and contributes to our understanding of their intricate evolution.
2 comments
omg, these pulsar thingies r like, wow! i always thot stars were just chillin’, but nope, they’re eatin’ each other! and now we got that missing link, kudos to those smarty-pants researchers.
whoa, this is sum seriously amazin’ stuff! those pulsars r like dancin’ stars. big props to the brainiacs behind that FAST thingy. total game changer, u kno?