Observation of discontinuities in the periodic modulation of PSR B1828−11

Researchers at Jodrell Bank Observatory have identified discontinuities in the periodic modulation of PSR B1828−11, a radio pulsar, challenging previous explanations involving planetary companions or precession. The study, using a high-resolution dataset spanning over 500 days, found significant shifts in modulation amplitude, frequency, and phase occurring before a glitch—a sudden increase in rotation frequency. These changes are statistically supported with a Bayes factor of 1486, suggesting complex dynamics in the pulsar's magnetosphere or precession. The findings offer new insights into neutron star rotational behavior and rule out planetary companions as the sole cause of observed modulations.

Dias, A., Ashton, G., Ostrovska, J., Jones, D. I., & Keith, M. (2025). Observation of discontinuities in the periodic modulation of PSR B1828−11. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 538(4), 2923–2936. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staf468