Unexpected radio detection
An international team of researchers has reported the detection of faint radio pulses originating from the object known as the 'Blue Eye Pulsar'. The neutron star, whose optical signature has been absent for more than thirty years, now exhibits a measurable radio profile.
Object background
The 'Blue Eye Pulsar' was first identified in the 1990s because of its distinctive blue hue in the optical spectrum and classified as a pulsar. Rapid spin‑down indicated that it had already become inactive, leading to a long period without successful observations.
Observational approach
The recent study combined data from the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico and the MeerKAT array in South Africa. Extended integration times and advanced filtering techniques allowed the extraction of weak pulsations that were previously masked by background noise.
Implications for pulsar science
Finding radio emission from a pulsar previously considered dormant suggests that some neutron stars may enter low‑activity phases before fully switching off. This insight could require revisions to models of magnetic field decay and energy loss in pulsars.
Future work
Planned follow‑up observations will aim to map the frequency spectrum and periodicity of the signals in greater detail. The findings may help identify other “quiet” pulsars that have so far escaped detection.