SWIFT J1818.0−1607
Chandra X-ray Observatory image of Swift J1818.0–1607 (pink) composited with an infrared photograph of its location in the sky | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Right ascension | 18h 18m 00.23s |
| Declination | −16° 07′ 53.0″ |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | Magnetar |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | 4800–8100 pc |
| Details | |
| Rotation | 1.363489(3) s (X-ray) 1.3635273(4) s (radio) |
| Age | 500 years or 240 years |
| Other designations | |
| SWIFT J1818−1607, PSR J1818−1607 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
SWIFT J1818.0−1607 is a young magnetar and soft gamma repeater, with an estimated age between 240 and 500 years. For context, other magnetars have a characteristic age of less than 200,000 years. This means that this neutron star could be one of the youngest neutron stars and magnetars detected so far. It is located at a distance of 4800-8100 parsecs from Earth in the Constellation of Sagittarius. It has a mass of about two solar masses packed into a region of space more than a trillion times smaller making it extremely dense.Observations revealed that SWIFT J1828.0−1607 had a spin period of 1.36 seconds.
SWIFT J1828.0−1607 has a very dynamic magnetosphere which is inferred from its variability in its shape and polarization properties. It may also provide a crucial link between High-magnetic field radio pulsars and magnetars.