Pune astronomers study behavioral changes in a dead star

Pune astronomers study behavioral changes in a dead starAstronomers working on a giant radio telescope in the western Indian city of Pune have help increase understanding of behavioral changes in a dead star.

The star in the outer space is believed to be unusual due to its radio waves and the scientists are already working solve the mystery and developing physics theories to explain its characterizes. An international team of researchers spotted the chameleon pulsar that changes its fundamental characteristics within seconds.

Dipanjan Mitra, scientist at National Centre for Radio Astronomy in Pune, who is a part of the team that discovered the strange behavior star, said that behavioral changes of the star cannot be explained with existing theories in physics and there is a need to study unexplored area to develop understanding.

The team discovered the unusual characteristics of the pulsar B0943+10 in outer space using a network of three telescopes. European Space Agency's XMM Newton satellite, Giant Meter-wave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune and Low Frequency Array in the Netherlands were used to track the characteristic changes in the star.

"What we find cannot be explained with these classical models. The detailed results are a complete surprise and all theories have to be revisited," said Wim Hermsen from The Netherlands Institute for Space Research. Hermsen is the lead author of the research paper.