Selections from 2018: Revival of a Magnetar

Editors note:In these last two weeks of 2018, well be looking at a few selections that we havent yet discussed on AAS Nova from among the most-downloaded paperspublished in AAS journals this year. The usual posting schedule will resume in January.Revival of the Magnetar PSR J16224950: Observations with MeerKAT, Parkes, XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and NuSTARPublished April 2018Main takeaway:A ultra-magnetized neutron star that has been quiescent for three years has now reawakened, according to a study led by Fernando Camilo (SKA South Africa). New radio and X-ray observations of the magnetar PSR J16224950 reveal pulses of radiation from this source for the first time since 2014.Why its interesting:Unlike pulsars, which are neutron stars with emission powered by the decay of their rotation, magnetars are neutron stars powered by the decay of their extremely strong magnetic fields. Of the nearly two dozen confirmed magnetars, only four have been discovered to exhibit radio pulses in addition to X-rays andJ16224950 is one of them. Exploring this source is therefore important for understanding the physics at work, as well as the similarities and differences between magnetars and pulsars.The additional intrigue of a new telescope:The MeerKAT array in South Africa. [SARAO]The radio observations ofJ16224950 were made in large part by the brand new MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa, an array of 64 dishes that is now the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the southern hemisphere. The MeerKAT observations ofJ16224950 were made in April through October 2017, while the telescope was still in the process of being built only 16 of the 64 dishes were used. Camilo and collaborators study mark thefirst scientific publication based on MeerKAT data and we can hope for many more in the future!CitationF. Camilo et al 2018 ApJ 856 180. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aab35a