pulsarid

A pulsar is a highly magnetized rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its magnetic poles. This radiation can be observed as a regular pulse of radio waves, X-rays, or gamma rays when a beam sweeps across Earth. The term pulsar is derived from "pulsating radio source," which is what they were first observed as.

Neutron stars are the collapsed cores of massive stars, typically around 10 to 30 times the mass of the Sun, that have exploded as supernovae. They are incredibly dense, with a mass greater than that of the Sun packed into a sphere only about 20 kilometers (12 miles) in diameter. Their rapid rotation and intense magnetic fields are a consequence of the conservation of angular momentum and magnetic flux during the stellar collapse.

The emission from pulsars is thought to be generated by charged particles accelerated in the strong magnetic fields near the neutron star's surface. As the neutron star rotates, these beams sweep through space. If a beam happens to be pointed towards Earth, we detect a pulse of radiation each time the beam sweeps past our line of sight. The period of these pulses corresponds to the rotation period of the neutron star, which can range from milliseconds to several seconds.

Pulsars are important tools in astrophysics. Their precise timing allows astronomers to test theories of gravity, study the interstellar medium, and even detect gravitational waves. Some pulsars are also found in binary systems, which has led to the discovery of the first planets outside our solar system.