Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery about mysterious radio pulses coming from within our Milky Way galaxy. The long radio blasts, which lasted between 30 and 90 seconds, appeared to come from the direction of the Ursa Major constellation. Scientists have zeroed in on the surprising origin of the unusual radio pulses: a dead star, called a white dwarf, that is closely orbiting a small, cool red dwarf star.
The two stars, known collectively as ILTJ1101, are located 1,600 light-years from Earth and are pulsing together as they orbit a common center of gravity. The team found that the two stars were moving back and forth rapidly, and their motion matched the two-hour period between radio pulses. The researchers were able to measure the motions and calculate the mass of the companion star, which they determined to be a white dwarf.
The discovery reveals that the movements of stars within a stellar pair can also create rare long-period radio transients (LPTs). Previously, long radio bursts were only traced to neutron stars, the dense remnants left after a colossal stellar explosion. However, this new study shows that there are two possible causes behind the pulses: either the white dwarf has a strong magnetic field or the magnetic fields of the red dwarf star and the white dwarf interact as they orbit.
The research team plans to observe ILTJ1101 and study any ultraviolet light that may be emanating from the system, which could reveal more about how the two stars have interacted in the past. They are also combing through radio data in search of other long pulses, hoping to decipher more secrets about these mysterious objects.
This discovery is significant because it expands our understanding of what types of stars can produce and send radio pulses across the cosmos. It may also provide insights into the history and dynamics of two entwined stars. As researchers continue to study this phenomenon, they hope to shed light on the interaction between magnetic fields and uncover more about the extreme astrophysical objects that create these mysterious pulses.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/radio-burst-pulsing-milky-way-161831677.html