Pulsars

Definition

Pulsars are highly magnetized, rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation out of their magnetic poles. These beams are detectable when they sweep past Earth, creating a pulsed appearance.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Pulsars were first discovered in 1967 by Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish.
2. The pulses emitted by pulsars can range from milliseconds to seconds in duration.
3. Neutron stars, the remnants of supernova explosions, are the progenitors of pulsars.
4. Pulsars have extremely strong magnetic fields, often billions of times stronger than Earth's.
5. The precise regularity of pulsar emissions makes them useful as cosmic clocks for various astronomical measurements.

Review Questions

• What is the primary mechanism behind the pulsed appearance of pulsars?
• Who discovered pulsars and in what year?
• How do the magnetic fields of pulsars compare to those of Earth?

Related terms

Neutron Star:

A dense stellar remnant left after a supernova explosion composed almost entirely of neutrons.

Supernova:

A powerful stellar explosion that occurs at the end of a star's life cycle and can lead to the formation of neutron stars or black holes.

Magnetic Field:

The region around a magnetic material or a moving electric charge within which the force of magnetism acts.