PSR J2144−3933 is a pulsar about 180 parsecs (587 light-years) from Earth. It is the coldest known neutron star with a surface temperature less than 42000 Kelvin as measured by the Hubble Space Telescope.[1] It was previously thought to have a period of 2.84 seconds but is now known to have a period of 8.51 seconds, which is among the longest-known radio pulsar.
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Grus |
| Right ascension | 21h 44m 12.10s |
| Declination | −39° 33′ 55.2″ |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | Pulsar |
| Variable type | None |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | approx. 587 ly (approx. 180 pc) |
| Details | |
| Rotation | 8.51 s |
| Other designations | |
EUVE J2144-39.6 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
J2144−3933 is also notable for other reasons: its mean pulse profile is very narrow in comparison to the pulse period with a half-intensity width of less than one degree of longitude. It also has the lowest spindown luminosity of any pulsar at about 3×1021 watts.
Writing in Nature, astrophysicists M. D. Young and coworkers consider this object and suggest that its existence throws current theories into doubt. They state:
- Moreover, under the usual model assumptions, based on the neutron-star equations of state, this slowly rotating pulsar should not be emitting a radio beam. Therefore either the model assumptions are wrong, or current theories of radio emission must be revised[2]
The fact that J2144−3933 is the coldest observed neutron star has been exploited to constrain the properties of dark matter.[3][4][5]
References
edit- ^ Guillot, S.; Pavlov, G.G.; Reyes, C.; Reisenegger, A.; Rodriguez, L.E.; Rangelov, B.; Kargaltsev, O. (5 April 2019). "Hubble Space Telescope Nondetection of PSR J2144–3933: The Coldest Known Neutron Star". The Astrophysical Journal. 874 (2): 175. arXiv:1901.07998. Bibcode:2019ApJ...874..175G. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ab0f38. S2CID 85543077.
- ^ Young, M. D.; Manchester, R. N.; Johnston, S. (26 August 1999). "A radio pulsar with an 8.5-second period that challenges emission models". Nature. 400 (6747): 848–849. Bibcode:1999Natur.400..848Y. doi:10.1038/23650. S2CID 4358706. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013.
- ^ McKeen, D.; Pospelov, M.; Raj, N. (Jun 3, 2021). "Cosmological and astrophysical probes of dark baryons". Physical Review D. 103 (11): 115002. arXiv:2012.09865. Bibcode:2021PhRvD.103k5002M. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.103.115002. S2CID 229332100.
- ^ McKeen, D.; Pospelov, M.; Raj, N. (Aug 6, 2021). "Neutron Star Internal Heating Constraints on Mirror Matter". Physical Review Letters. 127 (6): 061805. arXiv:2105.09951. Bibcode:2021PhRvL.127f1805M. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.061805. PMID 34420351. S2CID 235125629.
- ^ Bramante, J.; Kavanaugh, B.; Raj, N. (2022). "Scattering Searches for Dark Matter in Subhalos: Neutron Stars, Cosmic Rays, and Old Rocks". Physical Review Letters. 128 (23): 231801. arXiv:2109.04582. Bibcode:2022PhRvL.128w1801B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.231801. PMID 35749183. S2CID 237485354.
External links
edit- http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?protocol=html&Ident=PSR+J2144-3933&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id
- ""Undead" Star Torpedoes Current Theories". Sciencedaily.com. 26 August 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
- Kohler, Susanna (25 March 2011). "A Pulsar Alone: The first deep X-ray and optical observations of the closest isolated radio pulsar". Astrobites. Astrobites.org. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
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