phenomenon

NRL Research Astronomer GPM J183910emitsafive-minutepulseofradiowavelength emission every 22 minutes and it’s been doing this for at least 33 years

“Findings like this are exciting because they highlight the gaps in our understanding of the physics of these extreme stars knownasmagnetars,”saidDr TracyClarke, NRL Research Astronomer and VLITE Project Scientist. “Current understanding says this object should not emit radio wavesandyetwearedetectingthemacross several decades and we are not sure why. That is an exciting mystery.”

Astronomers believe GPM J1839 10 is a form of rare neutron star with extremely powerful magnetic fields “Astronomy is one of those bizarre professions where we are not able to go to our objects to study them,” Clarke said. “We are interested in howmanyoftheseareoutthereandwhere they are located. That is directing future research.

VLITEhasexceededitsoriginalmission fulfilling initial hopes of making discoveries just like this NRL astronomers will continue to search data sets produced with VLITE to lead future discoveries and a better understanding of the Universe with the fascinating objects it contains NRL’s instrumentation and cutting-edge research supports the mission of the Navy andDepartmentofDefensewhilecontinuing to contribute to science worldwide.

About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory NRL is a scientific and engineering commanddedicatedtoresearchthatdrives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL is located in Washington, D.C., with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi,KeyWest,Florida,andMonterey,California,andemploysapproximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.

For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at (202) 480-3746 or nrlpao@nrl.navy.mil.