It is not always possible to see extreme cosmic events. Therefore, astronomers “listen” to the universe with the help of radio telescopes by recording repeated radio signals emitted by white dwarfs and neutron stars, but there are exceptions. For example, a signal recently discovered by Chinese researchers that repeats itself every 44 minutes turned out to be associated with a supernova remnant. Scientists have never seen anything like this before.

A recently discovered class of radio emitters – long-period radio transients – are characterized by extremely long return times lasting from minutes to hours. Their nature was unknown for a long time. The fact is that long periods do not fit the traditional models of neutron stars or white dwarfs. In particular, Naked Science had previously reported on the GLEAM-X J0704-37 (white and red dwarf) binary system, which emits a radio signal lasting 30 to 60 seconds that repeats on average every 2.9 hours.

Astronomers recorded the new signal with the Daochen Radio Telescope (DART), and it repeated approximately every 44 minutes (2656.23 ± 0.15 seconds), meaning it was slower than the signals emitted by ordinary neutron stars.

The results of the study, the text of which is located in the north of the preprints of Cornell University (USA), showed that the distance to the source coincides with the supernova remnant G22.7-0.2, in which the neutron star is located. DART J1832-0911 has been located. However, its rotation was slowed down due to the accretion disk formed by the material left over from the explosion. If the astronomers’ conclusion is correct, DART J1832-0911 would be the first long-period radio transient detected associated with a supernova remnant.

This is important because it challenges current models of the evolution of neutron stars immediately after supernova explosions (the shedding of the upper crust and the gravitational collapse of the core at the end of the life cycle of massive stars). These objects rotate at tremendous speed and strong radiation is emitted from both poles. At the same time, the rotation axis oscillates, creating a characteristic “pulse” (recorded by astronomers with the help of radio telescopes).

But the recorded signal shows a stable and regular magnetic structure of the source and its slow rotation (due to interaction with the accretion disk). Since optical observations using other telescopes did not reveal any visible objects in the observed region, the researchers assumed that the source was related to the G22.7-0.2 supernova remnant.

The authors of the scientific study emphasized that the results they obtained will help understand the evolutionary processes of neutron stars immediately after the explosion. The discovery also expands the understanding of the nature of long-duration radio transient waves. However, further observations and research are required to confirm or deny the recorded signal’s connection to supernova remnants.