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An intern at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Remote Sensing Division, Amaris McCarver, along with a team of astronomers, has made a significant discovery of the first millisecond pulsar within the stellar cluster known as Glimpse-CO1. The findings were recently published in The Astrophysical Journal.
Pulsars present unique opportunities for understanding matter under extreme conditions of gravity and magnetism, which are difficult to simulate on Earth. Additionally, they act as natural timekeepers; measuring the timing of their pulses enables scientists to detect gravitational waves generated by the merging of supermassive black holes as galaxies collide. Some pulsars possess timing precision comparable to atomic clocks, indicating the potential for a “celestial GPS” system that could aid satellite navigation throughout space.
To identify new pulsars, McCarver’s team utilized images obtained from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) through the Low-band Ionosphere and Transient Experiment (VLITE) across 97 stellar clusters.
“It was thrilling to witness the success of a speculative project this early in my career,” McCarver remarked. By harmonizing VLITE images with data from various radio wavelength surveys, her efforts successfully pinpointed numerous candidate pulsars, with the most promising one located in the system GLIMPSE-C01.
Tracy E. Clarke, Ph.D., an astronomer from the NRL Remote Sensing Division, noted, “This type of discovery was made possible through the collaboration between NRL and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, which provided dual-frequency capabilities on the VLA. Our research underscores how radio brightness measurements at different frequencies can efficiently locate new pulsars, and with extensive VLITE data available, we are poised to enter a new era in the search for both highly dispersed and rapidly spinning pulsars.”
The newly identified millisecond pulsar, designated GLIMPSE-C01A, was confirmed by reprocessing archival data from the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope. Millisecond pulsars like GLIMPSE-C01A form from supernova explosions and gain rotation speed by accreting matter from a companion star, enhancing their observational characteristics.
Emil Polisensky, Ph.D., another astronomer at NRL, emphasized the significance of this discovery: “Millisecond pulsars provide a promising avenue for the autonomous navigation of spacecraft as they traverse from low Earth orbit to interstellar distances, all without relying on ground control and conventional GPS. The identification of this new MSP by Amaris showcases the immense potential for new discoveries stemming from NRL’s VLITE dataset and highlights the invaluable contributions interns make in advanced scientific research.”
In recognition of her work, McCarver received the Robert S. Hyer Research Award from the Texas Section of the American Physical Society (APS). This accolade for ‘Excellence in Research’ was bestowed upon her during the Texas APS meeting in October for her summer internship focused on millisecond pulsars, part of the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP).
During the summer of 2023, McCarver was among 16 interns participating in the Radio, Infrared, Optical Sensors Branch at NRL DC through various programs, including the Science Engineering Apprenticeship Program and the U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen Internship Program. With plans to graduate in Physics and Astronomy, McCarver intends to pursue further studies in astronomy.
The NRL Remote Sensing Division is engaged in foundational research, science, and applications aimed at developing innovative sensor and imaging systems for diverse objects on Earth, within the near-Earth space, and beyond. Their research incorporates both theoretical frameworks and experimental studies focused on comprehending the fundamental physical principles that influence target and background emissions, as well as the interactions with the intervening medium.
This research entails a combination of theoretical work, laboratory experiments, and field trials leading to the formulation of systems for remote sensing, astrometry, astrophysics, surveillance, and even anti-submarine warfare, thereby enhancing meteorological support systems for the operational Navy.
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