SWIFT J1818.0−1607 is a young magnetar and soft gamma repeater, with an estimated age between 240 and 500 years. For context, other magnetars have a characteristic age of less than 200,000 years. This means that this neutron star could be one of the youngest neutron stars and magnetars detected so far. It is located at a distance of 4800-8100 parsecs from Earth in the Constellation of Sagittarius. It has a mass of about two solar masses packed into a region of space more than a trillion times smaller making it extremely dense.Observations revealed that SWIFT J1828.0−1607 had a spin period of 1.36 seconds. SWIFT J1828.0−1607 has a very dynamic magnetosphere which is inferred from its variability in its shape and polarization properties. It may also provide a crucial link between High-magnetic field radio pulsars and magnetars.
Discovery It was discovered by NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory when it exhibited an X-ray burst on 12 March 2020. Further observations detected pulsed radio emissions making SWIFT J1828.0−1607 only the fifth radio-loud magnetar discovered.
References
External links A Cosmic Baby Is Discovered, and It's Brilliant, Calla Cofield, NASA, 17 June 2020 XMM-Newton observes baby magnetar, ESA, 17 June 2020 J1818.0−1607: Chandra Studies Extraordinary Magnetar, Chandra X-ray Center, 8 January 2021