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Observation of a Rapidly Pulsating Radio Source

Nature volume 217, pages 709–713 (1968)Cite this article

Unusual signals from pulsating radio sources have been recorded at the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory. The radiation seems to come from local objects within the galaxy, and may be associated with oscillations of white dwarf or neutron stars.

IN July 1967, a large radio telescope operating at a frequency of 81.5 MHz was brought into use at the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory. This instrument was designed to investigate the angular structure of compact radio sources by observing the scintillation caused by the irregular structure of the interplanetary medium1. The initial survey includes the whole sky in the declination range 08 < d < 44 and this area is scanned once a week. A large fraction of the sky is thus under regular surveillance. Soon after the instrument was brought into operation it was noticed that signals which appeared at first to be weak sporadic interference were repeatedly observed at a fixed declination and right ascension; this result showed that the source could not be terrestrial in origin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge https://www.nature.com/nature

    A. HEWISH, S. J. BELL, J. D. H. PILKINGTON, P. F. SCOTT & R. A. COLLINS

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  1. A. HEWISH
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  2. S. J. BELL
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  3. J. D. H. PILKINGTON
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  4. P. F. SCOTT
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  5. R. A. COLLINS
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HEWISH, A., BELL, S., PILKINGTON, J. et al. Observation of a Rapidly Pulsating Radio Source. Nature 217, 709–713 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/217709a0

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