Pulsarplaneettajärjestelmä

Pulsarplaneettajärjestelmä refers to a planetary system orbiting a pulsar. Pulsars are highly magnetized rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation. When these beams sweep across Earth, they are observed as pulses, hence the name pulsar. The first pulsar planets were discovered in 1992 around the pulsar PSR B1257+12. This discovery was significant as it was the first confirmed detection of planets outside our solar system.

The planets in pulsar systems are thought to have formed in a very different environment than those in typical star systems. Several theories exist regarding their formation. One possibility is that they are remnants of a star that was destroyed by the supernova that created the pulsar. Another theory suggests that the planets may have formed from an accretion disk around the neutron star, though this is less favored due to the harsh radiation environment.

The properties of pulsar planets can vary significantly. The planets around PSR B1257+12 are relatively small, with masses comparable to Earth and the Moon. Studying these systems provides unique insights into planet formation processes under extreme conditions, including intense radiation and strong magnetic fields. The existence of pulsar planets demonstrates that planetary systems can form and persist even around such energetic and exotic stellar remnants.