Astronomers have identified a baffling new cosmic radio source – ILT J163430+445010 – emitting bright radio pulses every 14 minutes with unexpected shifts between circular and linear polarization. The source is linked to a white dwarf binary exhibiting a unique companion-triggered radio burst mechanism. This discovery challenges existing models of stellar radio emissions and may open a new window into understanding dead stars as radio beacons. This research was published in the scientific journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
The finding was made possible by the LOFAR telescope and highlights the power of sensitive, wide-field radio surveys. It also underscores the need for continued international collaboration to interpret such rare and complex astrophysical phenomena. Read the full ASTRON press release
Image Credits: Artist’s impression of the long-period transient J1634+44, revealed to be a white dwarf with a companion. Credits: NSF/AUI/NSF NRAO/P. Vosteen