NASA probe maps Lighthouse pulsar’s magnetic fields for the first time
NASA, using the IXPE instrument, was able to measure the magnetic fields of the Lighthouse pulsar nebula, confirming theories about the escape of high-energy particles. The observations, released on Thursday, July 9, 2026, reveal crucial details about one of the most extreme objects in the universe, offering a new perspective on cosmic physics. The resulting image combines X-ray data from IXPE (blue) and the Chandra Observatory (purple), plus radio information from CSIRO (green) and optical information from 2MASS.
NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) science team has obtained a first-of-its-kind direct measurement of the magnetic fields of the pulsar PSR J1101−6101, located in the Lighthouse Nebula. Such discoveries bring valuable data about the conformation of high-intensity cosmic elements, helping the agency to unravel the mysteries of how the universe works. A detailed study of these analyzes was published Thursday in the Astrophysical Journal.
NASA measurements using IXPE have successfully confirmed the theory that highly energetic particles travel along the galactic magnetic field lines of the Lighthouse pulsar nebula. This scientific confirmation is visualized in a composite image, where X-ray data from IXPE appears in blue (highlighted in the inset), from the Chandra X-ray Observatory in purple and CSIRO radio in green, complemented by optical information from the 2MASS survey.
Important details about the Lighthouse pulsar and the study
- What is a pulsar?A neutron star with an intense magnetic field, rotating at high speed. The central pulsar in the Lighthouse Nebula, for example, completes 16 rotations every second.
- Neutron star formation:They are the cores left over from giant stars at the end of their lives. They have more mass than the Sun, but are compacted to the size of a city, serving as environments for physics research in extreme conditions.
- Understanding polarization:This characteristic of light describes the orientation of the vibrations of its electric field. The polarization level indicates the alignment of these vibrations.
- Observation duration:The IXPE instrument dedicated around 18 days, in June 2025, to in-depth study of the Lighthouse Nebula.
Astronomers focused their research on two thin extensions of X-rays that come from the pulsar, seeking to understand the interaction of electrons at speeds close to that of light with the energetic system. The longest extension is called a “filament”, while the shortest is called a “trail”.
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When colliding with interstellar gas, the high-energy particles coming from the pulsar generate a shock wave, a phenomenon analogous to the wake of a fast boat. Most of these particles are retained after the wave, creating the turbulent wake that the pulsar leaves behind.
Since 2008, there has been a hypothesis that higher energy particles can overcome this shock wave, heading towards interstellar space. They would move according to the galaxy’s magnetic field lines, giving rise to the extensive and subtle filament of the nebula.
Jack Dinsmore, a Stanford University graduate student and study leader, explained the goal: “We wanted to test this theory.” He added that “the crucial evidence would come from measuring the polarization of light, which reveals the orientation of the magnetic field. If the magnetic field is aligned with the filament, this validates that the particles are flowing in that direction.”
One of the major obstacles to these analyzes lies in the low luminosity of the Lighthouse Nebula. To overcome this difficulty, IXPE experts created advanced methods, exploring the entirety of the data collected and avoiding simplifications that could compromise the richness of the information. With the application of these innovative tools and recent observations, the team was able to measure the polarization of the filament, the trail and also the pulsar’s emission signal.
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The results of the analysis validated, with a certainty greater than 99%, that the magnetic field follows the same direction as the particle flow.
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Although the parallel direction corroborates existing models for particle movement, the high degree of polarization detected generated new questions and challenges for the current understanding of magnetic turbulence.
Roger Romani, a professor at Stanford University and one of the study’s co-authors, highlighted that “several models for filaments assume strong magnetic turbulence.” He further noted that “the high degree of polarization we recorded points to turbulence lower than that required by such models.”
Observations made by IXPE indicated that the magnetic field that originates the X-ray emission should be in parallel with the trail. However, scientists also obtained radiofrequency data that revealed a magnetic field with an almost perfectly perpendicular orientation.
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Niccolò Bucciantini, from Italy’s National Institute of Astrophysics and co-author of the research, commented on the discovery: “The striking divergence in magnetic field orientations, noted between radio and X-ray wavelengths, offers compelling evidence of the complex structure of these objects.” He concluded that “this signals for the first time that particles with different energies occupy distinct zones within the system, suggesting the existence of multiple and possibly varied acceleration mechanisms.”
