Pulsar

Definition

A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its magnetic poles. These beams are observable when they sweep past Earth, appearing as regular pulses of radiation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Pulsars were first discovered in 1967 by Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish.
2. The rotation period of pulsars can range from milliseconds to a few seconds.
3. Pulsars are formed from the remnants of massive stars after they explode in supernovae.
4. The precise timing of pulsar emissions makes them useful as cosmic clocks for astronomical measurements.
5. Some pulsars, known as millisecond pulsars, have extremely rapid rotation rates due to accretion of material from a companion star.

Review Questions

• How do pulsars emit their characteristic pulses?
• What phenomenon leads to the formation of a neutron star that can become a pulsar?
• Why are millisecond pulsars different from other types of pulsars?

Related terms

Neutron Star:

A dense stellar remnant composed primarily of neutrons, created after the supernova explosion of a massive star.

Supernova:

A powerful and luminous explosion marking the death of a massive star.

Magnetar: A type of neutron star with an extremely strong magnetic field, much stronger than that of typical neutron stars or pulsars.