ESA Science & Technology - XMM-Newton's view of pulsar J1826-1256

Observations of PSR J1826-1256 – a radio quiet gamma-ray pulsar – obtained with ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray observatory.

Scientists discovered the X-ray pulsed emission from this and two similar sources using a theoretical model that predicts a pulsar's non-thermal X-ray brightness on the basis of its observed gamma-ray brightness.

This pulsar has a period of 110.2 milliseconds, appearing alternatively fainter and brighter as its beams of radiation point towards and away from Earth. For illustration purposes, the pulsar's flickering is shown 10 times slower than the actual one in this animated view.