THEY'RE CALLING ME HOME, AGAIN
One of the fastest-spinning stars ever seen has been found by the INTEGRAL spacecraft. But researchers say the star's speed could be limited by gravitational wave radiation - theoretical ripples in space-time. The idea could be tested by upgraded detectors within the next few years.
The European Space Agency's INTEGRAL spacecraft, launched in 2002 to study high-energy phenomena in space, detected the star on 2 December 2004. Called IGR J00291+5934, the object appears to lie about 9800 light years away and emits a periodic signal every 1.7 milliseconds. That is the telltale signature of a type of neutron star called a "millisecond pulsar" - one that spins at least 100 times per second.
"What's interesting is that spin rate is actually much slower than what we think the maximum is," Chakrabarty told New Scientist. Pulsars are expected to spin as fast as 3000 times per second before they split apart, he says. "Nature is applying some kind of brake, but we don't know what that is."
One possible mechanism could be gravitational waves - hypothesised ripples in space-time that are yet to be detected. Fast-spinning objects that are not perfectly symmetrical are predicted to radiate away energy in gravitational waves, with faster objects unleashing much more energy than slower ones.
this was their last shout out...
One of the fastest-spinning stars ever seen has been found by the INTEGRAL spacecraft. But researchers say the star's speed could be limited by gravitational wave radiation - theoretical ripples in space-time. The idea could be tested by upgraded detectors within the next few years.
The European Space Agency's INTEGRAL spacecraft, launched in 2002 to study high-energy phenomena in space, detected the star on 2 December 2004. Called IGR J00291+5934, the object appears to lie about 9800 light years away and emits a periodic signal every 1.7 milliseconds. That is the telltale signature of a type of neutron star called a "millisecond pulsar" - one that spins at least 100 times per second.
"What's interesting is that spin rate is actually much slower than what we think the maximum is," Chakrabarty told New Scientist. Pulsars are expected to spin as fast as 3000 times per second before they split apart, he says. "Nature is applying some kind of brake, but we don't know what that is."
One possible mechanism could be gravitational waves - hypothesised ripples in space-time that are yet to be detected. Fast-spinning objects that are not perfectly symmetrical are predicted to radiate away energy in gravitational waves, with faster objects unleashing much more energy than slower ones.
this was their last shout out...
VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
melly:
Heya, just wanting to stop by and say hello and hope you are doing well....
melly:
Happy Birthday love!