Astronomers have connected a pulsar’s enormous X-ray tail to gamma rays that were previously classified as orphaned, according to a report in Phys.org. The discovery came from joint observations by China’s Einstein Probe satellite and the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO).
The newly observed X-ray tail stretches about 42 light-years from the pulsar, providing a physical link between the pulsar and gamma rays whose origin had not been identified. This connection offers a clear example of how high-energy particles can be traced back to a specific source.
Because the origin, acceleration, and propagation of high-energy cosmic rays has remained a century-old mystery, the result is significant. It shows how combining X-ray and gamma-ray observatories can help reveal the mechanisms that produce and transport these energetic particles.