Archive · 22 May 2025
Study: TeV Halos are Common Around Middle-Aged Pulsars
Imagine tiny, spinning stars called pulsars that shoot out energy.
Scientists have found that these pulsars sometimes have giant clouds of energy around them, called TeV halos.
A new study shows that these halos are very common, like almost every pulsar has one.
This helps scientists find pulsars they couldn't see before.
They used a special telescope in Mexico to find them.
The study suggests that we might need to rethink how energy travels in space.
Now, they plan to study these halos closely to understand how they work better and find even more pulsars.
Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars emitting various types of radiation.
TeV halos, extended regions of gamma-ray emission, are found around some middle-aged pulsars.
A recent study suggests that TeV halos are a universal feature of middle-aged pulsars.
The study used observations from the HAWC observatory in Mexico.
The discovery may help in detecting pulsars that are otherwise difficult to observe.
- Who
- Researchers from the USA and Mexico conducted the study.
- What
- Study confirms TeV halos are a common feature of middle-aged pulsars, potentially aiding the detection of otherwise undetectable pulsars.
- When
- The study analyzed data collected over 2,300 days.
- Where
- The study utilized data from the HAWC observatory in Mexico.
- Why
- To determine if TeV halos are a common phenomenon, which could help in the detection of pulsars.
- Study Focus
- TeV halos around pulsars
- Telescope Used
- HAWC Observatory
- Location of HAWC
- Mexico
- Energy Detected
- Tera electron volt (TeV) gamma-rays
- Pulsar Age
- Middle-aged