China's Sky Eye has discovered more than 500 new pulsars

Since the discovery of pulsars was first announced on October 10, 2017, more than 500 new pulsars have been discovered by the 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope known as the "Eye of Heaven" in China. Relying on the world-leading observation capability of "China's Sky Eye" in the radio low-frequency band, China's astronomers have greatly led the foreign pulsar search team in terms of pulsar search capability and efficiency.

According to Li Ying, a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and chief scientist of "China Tianyan", as a revolutionary device for deep exploration of the universe, "China Tianyan" has discovered more than 500 new pulsars, discovered weak fast radio bursts that are difficult for other telescopes to find, and obtained the world's largest sample set of fast radio burst events so far, which are helping humans to further reveal the upheaval universe.

In terms of pulsar research, in May 2021, the "China Sky Eye" team found for the first time evidence that the three-dimensional velocity of pulsars is colliline with the axis of rotation. "This discovery is unexplained by current supernova simulations, challenging existing models of neutron star origin and expanding human understanding of the origin of special objects under extreme physical conditions." Li Said.

Panorama of the "Eye of Heaven in China" (drone photo taken on March 28, 2021). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ou Dongqu

It is understood that a pulsar is a high-speed rotating neutron star, which is a star formed after the explosion of a huge star. It rotates extremely fast, is extremely dense, and has extreme physical properties that are not possible in ground-based laboratories. Studying pulsars helps solve many major physics problems. (Reporter Qi Jian)