Unprecedented Gamma-ray Emissions from Pulsar Leave Scientists Stunned
Astronomers have discovered that the Vela Pulsar, a spinning neutron star located nearly 1,000 light-years away, has emitted the highest-energy radiation ever observed from a pulsar. Data from the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) observatory in Namibia revealed gamma-ray photons with energies of at least 20 teraelectronvolts (TeV), surpassing previous expectations for pulsar emissions. The discovery provides new insights into the nature of pulsars and their radiation sources, challenging current models and opening up new avenues for research in TeV pulsar astronomy.