Comments on: Fermi Telescope Makes First Big Discovery: Gamma Ray Pulsar

By: Jon Hanford

Jon Hanford — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:38:52 +0000

The paper announcing the discovery of the GR pulsar in CTA 1 is available at arXiv:0810.3562 ('The Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope Discovers the Pulsar in the Young Supernova-Remnant CTA 1') available at the arXiv astro-ph site for 10-21-08. Mention is made of the suspicion of the object known as 3EG J0010+7309 (from EGRET on GRO) & RXJ0007.0+7303 (from XMM-Newton & CXO observations) as likely being a gamma ray pulsar, but only observations from Fermi were able to confirm this. For JohnD, pages 8-9 describe how extended observations with Fermi (which has an internal clock accurate to 300ns) eventually collect enough GR photons for an accurate spin rate to be determined even with 'a gamma ray photon per minute' statistics. An earlier paper describing how GR pulsar observations would be feasible with Fermi is available at arXiv:0810.1637 submitted 10-8-08. Mention was made of the extremely high magnetic field deduced from Fermi observations( 1.1×10^13 Gauss ), probably making this GR pulsar also a magnetar candidate!

By: JohnD

JohnD — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:36:54 +0000

"Its lighthouse-like beam sweeps Earth's way every 316.86 milliseconds. "
and
Fermi "sees about one gamma ray every minute from CTA 1, enough for scientists to piece together the neutron star's pulsing behavior, its rotation period, and the rate at which it is slowing down."

One gamma a minute; how can that resolve such a rapid spin?

By: DestroyAllHumans

DestroyAllHumans — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:35:32 +0000

How come none of the other gamma ray satellites saw these before?

And how do we know this isn't some kind of alien space weapon?

Or that their version of the LHC just went horribly, horribly wrong?

By: bob

bob — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:28:45 +0000

Neutrons only have a net charge that is neutral. All of the parts of the neutron are not neutral.

Secondly, AFAIK, it is the strange sea that produces the magnetic field and it is likely that strange quarks will be dominating in neutron star environments , resulting in very strong magnetic fields.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:34:23 +0000

"Perhaps someone could explain why the pulsar does not appear to be centered in the supernova remnant?"

The process that creates pulsars/neutron stars often gives them a bit of a kick in the pants in terms of momentum. It isn't surprising at all to find that the star has moved from where it was when it went nova.

By: quantum_flux

quantum_flux — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 02:39:47 +0000

I guess magnetar is a good explanation for it.

By: The Null Dragon

The Null Dragon — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 21:06:28 +0000

All this stuff just tickles me pink, before the silicon age I remember there was much speculation about ever being able to see deep into space with earth based telescopes! This new technology has been wonderful to see develop over this last half century! I salute the people who make it possible!

By: Arnee

Arnee — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:09:50 +0000

Perhaps someone could explain why the pulsar does not appear to be centered in the supernova remnant?

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:27:39 +0000

The key point here is that Fermi is able to detect more pulsars than before since the gamma ray beacon is broader than the other em radiation they emit. If the poles of the pulsar are pointed away from Earth then we simply will miss a large number of pulsars out there. Fermi shouldf be able to capture some of these.

By: THIS ISNT NEW

THIS ISNT NEW — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:24:07 +0000

this really isnt. its a magnetar, a form of pulsar where its decay of its magnetic field powers the EM radiation in the form of gamma rays or X-rays

By: Igor - mad scientist

Igor - mad scientist — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:49:09 +0000

Some good science there

By: Astrofiend

Astrofiend — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 07:39:41 +0000

"# Fenring Says:
October 17th, 2008 at 7:26 am

"I've always wondered how come neutron stars have such extremely strong magnetic fields when they are (hypothetically) composed mostly of electrically neutral particles?"

Neutron stars, though made up of mostly neutrons, still have a large number of charged particles floating around in them. Check the wikipedia article for a basic rundown…

By: quantum_flux

quantum_flux — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:51:51 +0000

Hehehe, I'd like to see the Electric Cosmos Model explain this one.

By: ad koppen

ad koppen — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:47:26 +0000

A gamma-ray pulsar will evaporate very fast , much faster like other more common pulsars and therefore they will be a unique phenomenon in space, I think.

By: Aodhhan

Aodhhan — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:17:02 +0000

eer.. make that gamma ray. TGIF

By: Aodhhan

Aodhhan — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:16:40 +0000

Fermi is already paying off!!! Can't wait until we get some of the higher quality xray spectrum pictures of everything it is up there to look at.

By: zibit

zibit — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:32:11 +0000

Fermi already making some very cool observations! Cant wait to see what else Fermi will discover.

By: Jarod

Jarod — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:08:58 +0000

Yeah tha is a very interesting find. The Femmi telescope is doing very good work.

By: Fenring

Fenring — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:26:28 +0000

I've always wondered how come neutron stars have such extremely strong magnetic fields when they are (hypothetically) composed mostly of electrically neutral particles?

By: Curtis

Curtis — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:26:01 +0000

Interesting find. The more we watch, the more we see.