Astronomers Observe Magnetar Formation in Superluminous Supernova SN 2024afav
Researchers have observed the formation of a magnetar within superluminous supernova SN 2024afav, providing evidence of Einstein's general relativity effects in stellar explosions.
In December 2024, astronomers detected supernova SN 2024afav approximately one billion light-years from Earth. Unlike typical supernovae, SN 2024afav exhibited a series of brightness oscillations, with each pulse occurring more rapidly than the previous one, resembling a 'chirp' pattern.
This unusual light curve led researchers to conclude that the supernova's luminosity was powered by a newly formed magnetar—a rapidly spinning neutron star with an extremely strong magnetic field. The magnetar's spin period was estimated at approximately 4.2 milliseconds, with a magnetic field strength around 1.6 × 10¹⁴ gauss.
The 'chirp' pattern in the supernova's brightness is attributed to the Lense-Thirring effect, a phenomenon predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity. Material from the explosion formed an accretion disk around the magnetar, which, due to misalignment with the magnetar's spin axis, experienced a wobbling motion known as Lense-Thirring precession. This wobble caused periodic variations in the observed light, matching the accelerating pulses detected.
These findings provide the first observational evidence of the Lense-Thirring effect in a supernova environment and confirm that magnetar spin-down can account for the extreme luminosity observed in some superluminous supernovae.