FSNews365 The Next Generation of News

TeV Halos Around Middle-Aged Pulsars May Be Universal, Study Reveals Introduction: Pulsars and Their Mysterious Radiation Rapidly rotating neutron stars known as pulsars give off periodic radio wave emissions and streams of magnetic radiation, some of which are observable from Earth. These stellar remnants originate from the explosive deaths of massive stars. Discovery of TeV Halos Around Middle-Aged Pulsars Astronomers have recently detected expansive regions emitting gamma rays at TeV energies surrounding middle-aged between 100,000 and one million years. Termed TeV halos, these zones are markedly larger than the pulsars' own wind nebulae — clouds formed by the rotation and magnetic fields of the neutrons stars. Scientific Mystery: What Causes TeV Halos? The existence of TeV halos encircling some middle-aged pulsars is now well-substantiated, but the underlying processes responsible for their emergence are still not fully understood. It also remains an open question whether these...

First Ever Nuclear Reaction in Neutron Star Remnants Measured Using Nanomaterials A Breakthrough in Astrophysics and Nuclear physics Physicists have successfully observed a nuclear reaction that takes place during neutron star collisions, offering experimental data for a process that was once purely theoretical. this research, conducted by the University of Surrey, sheds light on the creation of the universe's heaviest elements and may lead to breakthroughs in nuclear reactor technology. Historic First Measurement of a Weak r-Process Reaction The ⁹⁴Sr(α,n)⁹⁷Zr  Nuclear Reaction In collaboration with the University of York, University of Seville, and TRIUMF — Canada's national particle accelerator center — researchers have achieved a historic milestone: the first direct measurement of a week r-process reaction cross-section using a radioactive ion beam. This study focused on the  ⁹⁴Sr(α,n)⁹⁷Zr reaction, where strontium-94 absorbs an alpha particle, emits a neutron, and tra...

Astronomers Discover 18 New Pulsars Using Arecibo Telescope Data Discovery of 18 New Pulsars Astronomers from West Virginia University, in collaboration with other institutions, have identified 18 new pulsars through the Arecibo Observatory, as a part of the AO 327-MHz Drift Survey. These discoveries were outlined in a paper published on February 6. What Are Pulsars? Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars with strong magnetic fields that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation. Typically identified through brief radio bursts, some pulsars are also observed in optical, X-ray and gamma-ray wavelengths. The AO327 Survey: Purpose and Scope The AO327 survey, conducted with the Arecibo telescope at 327 MHz, operated from 2010 to December 2020. Its objective was to systematically search the entire Arecibo-visible sky (declinations between-1 °  and 38° ) for pulsars and radio transients. Key Findings from the AO327 Survey By examining data from the AO327 survey, astronomers under the ...

Could a Nearby Supernova Hold the Key to Solving the Dark Matter Mystery? The Mystery of Dark Matter The quest to uncover the universe's dark matter could reach its conclusion as early as tomorrow — if a nearby su pernova offers the right conditions. For 90 years, astronomers have been  puzzled by the elusive nature of dark matter , which constitutes 85% of the universe's mass yet remains invisible to telesco pes. Current research focuses on the axion, a lightweight  particle widely regarded as the leading candidate. The Role of Axions in Dark Matter Research Identifying Axions Through Su pernova Gamma Rays Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley,  pro pose that axions could be identified almost instantly following the detection of gamma rays from a nearby su pernova. If axions exist, they would be generated in vast numbers during the first 10 seconds of a massive star's colla pse into a neutron star. These  particles would then esca pe and convert into...

Physicists Propose Axion Clouds Around Neutron Stars: A New Insight into Dark Matter Introduction Physicists from Amsterdam, Princeton, and Oxford suggest that axions, extremely light particles, could exist in large clouds around neutron stars,  potentially offering insight into the elusive dark matter. Moreover, these axions may not be too challenging to observe. Continuation of Research Previous Work The study was  published in Physical Review X  as a continuation of earlier research , where the authors ex plored axions and neutron stars from a different  pers pective. In their earlier research, the team focused on axions esca ping from neutron stars. Now, they shift their attention to the axions tra p ped by the stars' gravity, which over time form a faint cloud around the star, one that might be detectable by telesco pes. But what makes these hazy clouds around distant stars so intriguing to astronomers and  physicists? Axions: A Sur prising Link Between So...