PSR J2144−3933

PSR J2144−3933 is a pulsar about 180 parsecs (587 light-years) from Earth. It is the coldest known neutron star with a surface temperature less than 42000 Kelvin as measured by the Hubble Space Telescope.[1] It was previously thought to have a period of 2.84 seconds but is now known to have a period of 8.51 seconds, which is among the longest-known radio pulsar.

PSR J2144−3933
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Grus
Right ascension 21h 44m 12.10s
Declination −39° 33′ 55.2″
Characteristics
Spectral type Pulsar
Variable type None
Astrometry
Distanceapprox. 587 ly
(approx. 180 pc)
Details
Rotation8.51 s
Other designations
EUVE J2144-39.6
Database references
SIMBADdata

J2144−3933 is also notable for other reasons: its mean pulse profile is very narrow in comparison to the pulse period with a half-intensity width of less than one degree of longitude. It also has the lowest spindown luminosity of any pulsar at about 3×1021 watts.

Writing in Nature, astrophysicists M. D. Young and coworkers consider this object and suggest that its existence throws current theories into doubt. They state:

Moreover, under the usual model assumptions, based on the neutron-star equations of state, this slowly rotating pulsar should not be emitting a radio beam. Therefore either the model assumptions are wrong, or current theories of radio emission must be revised[2]

The fact that J2144−3933 is the coldest observed neutron star has been exploited to constrain the properties of dark matter.[3][4][5]

References
  1. Guillot, S.; Pavlov, G.G.; Reyes, C.; Reisenegger, A.; Rodriguez, L.E.; Rangelov, B.; Kargaltsev, O. (5 April 2019). "Hubble Space Telescope Nondetection of PSR J2144–3933: The Coldest Known Neutron Star". The Astrophysical Journal. 874 (2): 175. arXiv:1901.07998. Bibcode:2019ApJ...874..175G. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ab0f38. S2CID 85543077.
  2. Young, M. D.; Manchester, R. N.; Johnston, S. (26 August 1999). "A radio pulsar with an 8.5-second period that challenges emission models". Nature. 400 (6747): 848–849. Bibcode:1999Natur.400..848Y. doi:10.1038/23650. S2CID 4358706. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013.
  3. McKeen, D.; Pospelov, M.; Raj, N. (Jun 3, 2021). "Cosmological and astrophysical probes of dark baryons". Physical Review D. 103 (11): 115002. arXiv:2012.09865. Bibcode:2021PhRvD.103k5002M. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.103.115002. S2CID 229332100.
  4. McKeen, D.; Pospelov, M.; Raj, N. (Aug 6, 2021). "Neutron Star Internal Heating Constraints on Mirror Matter". Physical Review Letters. 127 (6): 061805. arXiv:2105.09951. Bibcode:2021PhRvL.127f1805M. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.061805. PMID 34420351. S2CID 235125629.
  5. Bramante, J.; Kavanaugh, B.; Raj, N. (2022). "Scattering Searches for Dark Matter in Subhalos: Neutron Stars, Cosmic Rays, and Old Rocks". Physical Review Letters. 128 (23): 231801. arXiv:2109.04582. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.231801. PMID 35749183. S2CID 237485354.


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