Magnetar yields first evidence of vacuum birefringence predicted by quantum theory

An international team of astronomers used NASA's IXPE X-ray telescope to observe magnetar 1E 1547.0–5408 and detected what may be the first direct evidence of vacuum birefringence — a quantum phenomenon predicted decades ago but never before observed. The magnetar's extraordinarily powerful magnetic field made it the ideal natural laboratory for the test. The findings could help resolve a long-standing puzzle in quantum mechanics.

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