Xraypulsars

Xraypulsars are a type of celestial object that emit pulsed X-rays. They are typically neutron stars that are part of a binary system, meaning they orbit another star. The neutron star's strong magnetic field channels accreting matter from its companion star onto its magnetic poles. As the neutron star rotates, these hot spots at the poles sweep across our line of sight, causing the X-ray emission to appear pulsed. The pulse periods of Xraypulsars are often very stable and can range from milliseconds to minutes.

The energy source for Xraypulsars is the gravitational potential energy released as matter falls onto the neutron star's surface. This accretion process can heat the surface to millions of degrees, producing intense X-ray radiation. Studying Xraypulsars provides valuable insights into the physics of neutron stars, extreme magnetic fields, and accretion processes. Their pulsed nature allows for precise measurements of their rotation rates and orbital parameters, which in turn can reveal information about their companion stars and the overall dynamics of the binary system.

Xraypulsars are a subset of pulsars, which are generally characterized by their pulsed emission across the electromagnetic spectrum. While radio pulsars are more common, Xraypulsars are observed when the pulsed emission is primarily in the X-ray range, often due to the high temperatures and densities involved in the accretion process. Observing these objects requires sensitive X-ray telescopes.