Astronomers from the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), in conjunction with international research teams, have unveiled a remarkable discovery regarding a new type of cosmic phenomenon. This object, designated ASKAP J1832-0911, exhibits unique properties, emitting pulses of radio waves and X-rays for two minutes every 44 minutes. The findings are detailed in the paper titled "Detection of X-ray Emission from a Bright Long-Period Radio Transient," published in the prestigious journal Nature.
This discovery marks the first detection of objects known as long-period transients (LPTs) in X-rays, a significant milestone that could shed light on similar mysterious signals detected across the cosmos. The research team identified ASKAP J1832-0911 using the ASKAP radio telescope located on Wajarri Country in Australia, which is owned and operated by Australia's national science agency, CSIRO.
The astronomers successfully correlated the radio signals emitted by ASKAP J1832-0911 with X-ray pulses that were simultaneously detected by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. This coincidence was particularly fortunate, given that Chandra observes only a small portion of the sky at any given time. Lead author Dr. Ziteng (Andy) Wang from the Curtin University node of ICRAR expressed the excitement of this discovery, likening it to "finding a needle in a haystack."
Long-period transients, which emit radio pulses at intervals of minutes or hours, represent a relatively recent addition to the field of astronomy. Since the first LPT was detected by ICRAR researchers in 2022, astronomers around the globe have identified a total of ten LPTs. However, the underlying mechanisms driving these signals, and the reasons behind their long and regular intervals, remain largely unexplained. This particular object is unlike anything previously observed, according to Dr. Wang.
ASKAP J1832-0911 may potentially be a magnetar, which is the core of a dead star characterized by intense magnetic fields. Alternatively, it could represent a binary star system where one component is a highly magnetized white dwarf. Despite these theories, they do not fully elucidate the phenomena being observed. The discovery of ASKAP J1832-0911 may signal a new frontier in understanding stellar evolution and could even hint at new principles of physics.
Detecting these objects through both X-ray and radio emissions could pave the way for astronomers to discover more examples and deepen their understanding of these enigmatic phenomena. Second author Professor Nanda Rea, affiliated with the Institute of Space Science (ICE-CSIC) and the Catalan Institute for Space Studies (IEEC) in Spain, noted that finding one such object implies the likely existence of many more. The transient X-ray emissions of ASKAP J1832-0911 open new avenues for research into their mysterious nature.
Additionally, the study exemplifies the power of collaborative effort, with contributions from researchers worldwide, each bringing unique and complementary expertise to the table. This collaboration not only enhances the scope of the research but also provides valuable insights into the nature of these cosmic entities.
The discovery of ASKAP J1832-0911, located approximately 15,000 light-years away in our Milky Way galaxy, narrows down the possibilities regarding the nature of these intriguing objects. Since X-rays possess significantly higher energy than radio waves, any theoretical framework developed to explain the phenomenon must account for both types of emissions, offering a crucial clue in the ongoing quest to unravel this cosmic mystery.
