Scientists Solve Decades-Old Mystery of Crab Pulsar's Unique Zebra Pattern

A new study reveals that the Crab Pulsar's distinctive radio emissions stem from plasma density variations in its magnetosphere.

The Crab Pulsar, a neutron star located 6,000 light-years away in the Crab Nebula, emits a unique zebra-like pattern in its radio waves, first observed in 2007.
Physicist Mikhail Medvedev developed a model linking the zebra pattern to diffraction caused by plasma density variations in the pulsar's magnetosphere.
The phenomenon arises from constructive and destructive interference as radio waves interact with denser plasma regions near the neutron star.
This discovery allows scientists to measure plasma density and distribution in pulsar magnetospheres, offering new insights into young neutron stars.
The findings could expand techniques for studying other pulsars and test principles like Einstein's general relativity in binary systems.