Project description
Enigmatic sporadic radio signals revealing clues to compact stars
Long-period transients (LPTs) are mysterious radio signals that could shed light on the hidden lives of compact stars such as white dwarfs and neutron stars. These sporadic signals lasting minutes to hours are far brighter than what their spin alone could explain, pointing to unknown energy sources. Some LPTs are linked to binary star systems, while others might be magnetars or magnetised white dwarfs. The study of these signals could help uncover hidden stages in compact object evolution, such as aging magnetars or precursors to cataclysmic events. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SlowFlash project aims to expand the known LPT population, classify their origins and probe the physics behind their bursts.
Objective
Long-period transients (LPTs) are a newly discovered class of sporadically active radio sources with minute-to-hour periodicities. Their luminosities exceed what can be powered by rotational spin-down alone, pointing to alternative energy reservoirs. Only 12 LPTs are known: some confirmed as white dwarf–M dwarf binaries, while others may be magnetars or magnetized white dwarfs. Theory suggests LPTs trace hidden stages of compact object evolution—for example, progenitors of cataclysmic variables or old magnetars reactivated by magnetic field changes. They thus open a new window on compact binary pathways and coherent emission physics. This project asks: Do LPTs represent unseen evolutionary stages of white dwarfs or neutron stars, and what powers their emission? I will pursue three goals: 1) Expand detections by exploiting LOFAR’s 8-second imaging to search 3000 LoTSS fields with my optimized pipeline, incorporating dispersion correction to recover faint bursts, and developing a real-time image-based transient detection system for LOFAR2.0. 2) Classify populations through multi-wavelength follow-up: X-rays to test magnetar origins and optical data to reveal companions or WD progenitors, distinguishing isolated versus interacting systems. 3) Probe emission physics via high-time-resolution polarimetric radio follow-up, measuring spin, polarization, and burst microstructure to constrain energetics, local environments, and emission mechanisms. This Action will deliver the first systematic framework for studying LPTs, expanding the sample to a statistically meaningful population, placing them in an evolutionary context, and constraining their energy budgets. I will also release a public catalog of LPTs and reproducible analysis tools for the community. Performed at UvA, this project will provide the training needed for my development into an independent research group leader, while positioning LPTs as a key class of compact objects in the era of LOFAR2.0 and the SKA.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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1012WX Amsterdam
Netherlands
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