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China's Gigantic Telescope Discovers Over 900 New Pulsars Since Launch
China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) has identified over 900 new pulsars since its launch in 2016. The pulsars include binary pulsars, millisecond pulsars, and faint and intermittent pulsars. The number of new pulsars discovered by FAST is more than three times the total number found by foreign telescopes in the past 50-plus years.
China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), the world's largest single-dish radio telescope, has made a groundbreaking discovery. Since its launch in 2016, FAST has identified over 900 new pulsars, according to its operator.
Pulsars, also known as fast-spinning neutron stars, are formed from the collapsed cores of massive dying stars through supernova explosions. These celestial objects emit beams of electromagnetic radiation, which can be detected by radio telescopes like FAST.
Han Jinlin, a scientist with the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC), revealed that among the newly discovered pulsars, there are over 120 binary pulsars, more than 170 millisecond pulsars, and 80 faint and intermittent pulsars. This significant finding expands our understanding of these dense remnants of dead stars in the Milky Way and their radiation characteristics.
The impact of FAST's discovery is even more remarkable when compared to the global pulsar discoveries over the past 50-plus years. Han Jinlin stated that less than 3,000 pulsars were discovered worldwide during this period. However, the number of new pulsars detected by FAST alone is more than three times the total number found by foreign telescopes.
"The study has important implications for understanding the dense remnants of dead stars in the Milky Way and their radiation characteristics," Han Jinlin emphasised. This breakthrough not only contributes to our knowledge of the universe but also sheds light on gravitational radiation, black holes, and other major questions in physics.
Jiang Peng, the chief engineer of FAST, expressed his team's dedication to improving the telescope's performance. Currently, the telescope operates for approximately 5,300 hours annually, playing a crucial role in the continuous output of scientific research achievements.
Located in the karst depression of Guizhou Province in southwest China, FAST officially began its operations in January 2020. With its exceptional sensitivity, it is considered the world's most advanced radio telescope. The telescope's location in a deep and round karst depression provides an ideal environment for capturing radio signals from distant celestial objects.
FAST's remarkable discovery of over 900 new pulsars since its launch showcases the immense potential of this groundbreaking telescope. As scientists continue to analyse the data collected by FAST, further insights into the mysteries of the universe are expected to unfold.
China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) has identified over 900 new pulsars since its launch in 2016.
The pulsars include binary pulsars, millisecond pulsars, and faint and intermittent pulsars.
The number of new pulsars discovered by FAST is more than three times the total number found by foreign telescopes in the past 50-plus years.
Source: CGTN