PSR J2144−3933
Radio pulsar in the constellation Grus
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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 42,000 Kelvin as measured by the Hubble Space Telescope.[2] It was previously thought to have a period of 2.84 seconds but is now known to have a period of 8.5098 seconds, which is among the longest-known radio pulsars.
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox ICRS | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Grus |
| Right ascension | 21h 44m 12.01s[1] |
| Declination | −39° 33′ 58.4″[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | Pulsar[1] |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | approx. 587 ly (approx. 180 pc) |
| Details | |
| Temperature | < 42,000[2] K |
| Rotation | 8.509827983[1] s |
| Age | 272 Myr |
| Other designations | |
| EUVE J2144-39.6 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
PSR 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 W.
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[3]
The fact that PSR J2144−3933 is the coldest observed neutron star has been exploited to constrain the properties of dark matter.[4][5][6]
