1 / 14

Understanding Pulsars: The Dynamic Life of Neutron Stars

This presentation delves into the fascinating world of pulsars, focusing on their properties as neutron stars with immense magnetic fields and rapid rotations. It discusses the origin of their pulsing effect, which arises from the misalignment of magnetic and rotational axes. As pulsars rotate, they emit beams of light from their magnetic poles, reminiscent of a lighthouse effect. The mechanics of light emission, the relationship between electricity and magnetism, and the implications of these phenomena are explored in detail, enhancing our understanding of these cosmic wonders.

khanh
Télécharger la présentation

Understanding Pulsars: The Dynamic Life of Neutron Stars

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. After the Supernova:Pulsars Melissa Anholm University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 29 September, 2008

  2. Outline • Properties of Neutron Stars • Large Magnetic Field • Rapid Rotation • Origin of the Pulsing Effect • Motion in a Magnetic Field • Light Emission • The Lighthouse Effect

  3. Properties of Neutron Stars A Typical Neutron Star • Strong Magnetic Field • Fast Rotation

  4. Properties of Neutron Stars Why does it spin so fast? A typical star completes about one rotation every week - month. A typical young pulsar completes about one rotation per second.

  5. Properties of Neutron Stars Magnetic Fields - Now with Lines! http://www.freewebs.com/ayxl/magnet.jpeg http://www.utm.edu/staff/cerkal/magnetic_files/image004.jpg

  6. Properties of Neutron Stars After the Collapse: Rotation and the Magnetic Field • Dense magnetic field lines • Strong magnetic field • Angular momentum conserved • Fast rotation • Magnetic and rotational • axes may not be aligned.

  7. Origin of the Pulsing Effect Misalignment of Magnetic and Rotational Axes - Why We Care All newly formed neutron stars (and some older ones, too!) produce beams of light along their magnetic poles if the axes aren’t aligned. http://www.atnf.csiro.au/news/press/images/binary_pulsar/

  8. Origin of the Pulsing Effect Properties of Light • “photon” = a particle of light • accelerating charged particles produce photons (!)

  9. Origin of the Pulsing Effect A Strange Connection between Electricity and Magnetism • Moving magnets produce an • electric force. • Electric currents and moving • charged particles produce a • magnetic force. • Result: a moving charged • particle in a magnetic field • will accelerate. http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/5114/magfield0ct.jpg

  10. Origin of the Pulsing Effect Motion on a Large Scale Near a Rotating Magnet Charged particles move upward or downward (depending on the charge) at the pulsar’s rotational poles. http://www.atnf.csiro.au/news/press/images/binary_pulsar/

  11. Origin of the Pulsing Effect Motion in a Magnetic Field • A charged particle placed in a • magnetic field will spiral around • the magnetic field lines.

  12. Origin of the Pulsing Effect Accelerating A Charged Particle • Light is emitted in a • direction perpendicular • to the magnetic field. Synchrotron Radiation = Light

  13. Origin of the Pulsing Effect The Lighthouse Effect

  14. http://www.shatters.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11372 Conclusions • Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron • stars with powerful magnetic fields. • A misalignment in the rotational • and magnetic axes leads to the • emission of beams of light from • a pulsar’s magnetic poles.

More Related