PSR B1931plus24

A peculiar pulsar that seems to turn "on" and "off". During the dormant period, it also seems to slow its rate of rotation as much as 50 percent.

PSR B1931+24 is unique in its behaviour, appearing normal for about a week, then "switching off" for about a month before emitting pulses again. Because it is quiet most of the time, it has been difficult to detect - which suggests there may be many other similar objects in the Universe.

This "breaking mechanism" is thought to be related to the radio emission and the processes creating it - such as the rotational energy carried by the wind of particles leaving the pulsar's magnetosphere. The amount of breaking could be related to the number of charges leaving the pulsar magnetosphere.