A recent magazine publication Nature Astronomy offers a new perspective on magnetars, whose properties are still not fully understood. A magnetar is a type of neutron star with an extremely strong magnetic field that rotates every two to ten seconds.

Observing magnetar SGR 1935+2154 on October 5, 2020, researchers detected a sudden slowdown in the star’s angular momentum, often referred to as a spin-down malfunction. In the days that followed, the magnetar emitted three radio emissions similar to fast radio emissions. followed by a lunar pulsed radio emission episode, although there was no sign of a change in the star’s X-ray behavior or evidence of strong X-ray emission.

The research team says that because spin-down faults and radio signals from magnetars are rare, the synchronicity of these events suggests a relationship that offers clues to their origin and triggering mechanisms.

The researchers point to an eruption of plasma near the magnetic pole, which creates a wind that affects the star’s momentum and magnetic field and creates the combination needed to trigger the radio emission.