Classifications of neutron stars
Hello
guys! Welcome back to AstroMe!
So,
in my last blog, we learned about NEUTRON STAR. Before reading this post. I
recommend you to read my previous post as this is a continuation. Check out Neutron Star.
Neutron
stars can be mainly classified into two types: magnetars and pulsars.
Without any delay, let’s see about the types in detail.
MAGNETAR:
- They have very strong electromagnetic
energy from where they get their name.
- They rotate more slowly in
comparison to all the neutron stars. For example, they rotate just three
or four times in 20 seconds.
- They generate very strong X Rays and gamma
rays.
- Magnetars can be active or inactive.
- They are considered to be active when all the
above points can be seen
- They are inactive when they lose
their fuel and magnetic energy.
Most of the Magnetars found till now are inactive which helps us to conclude that the life expectancy rate of an active magnetar is very short.
Now,
let’s move on to pulsars.
PULSARS:
They
are very dense, compact, rotating neutron stars.
They do
emit electromagnetic radiation but not the amount a magnate
can and they also emit gamma rays.
From
far everything we see looks like a star but to say a star as a neutron star
there is just one characteristic- as a pulsar is a rotating neutron star it
rotates in all directions and we will be able to see the emission of energy only
when it is pointing towards the earth.
So, for an observer the star will appear
flickering {be suddenly glowing and not…. glowing and not…} It glows
when the radiation is pointing towards the earth. This effect is known as
the lighthouse effect.
It got
its name because the light produced by the lighthouse rotates in all directions but
we can see it only when it is on the side of an observer.
So, now we know about neutron stars.
Stay
tuned for the next journey!
Links:
1. Black holes
Good job ABI :)
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