Answer to Question #182067 in Astronomy | Astrophysics for Afnan Ibn Kamal

Question

Explain how pulsars are formed and the causes for behaviour pulsating behaviour.

Answer 1

Pulsars are born in the supernova explosions. The central area of the star during the explosion is compressed by gravity. The compression is so strong that protons and electrons merge to form neutrons and other particles. Hence, the name of the central object in the remnant is "neutron star". To form a neutron star, the primary star must have a mass from 4 to 8 Solar masses. During the supernova collapse, the momentum is conserved so the neutron star will be rotating. Neutron stars have strong magnetic fields cause by their internal structure. The poles of the magnetic field do not coincide in the direction with the axis of rotation. Accelerated particles and electromagnetic emission is emitted in the direction of poles. If the observer sees the pulsar emission at some period of time, the next observation will be possible only after one full rotation around its axis. For this reason, we see the "pulsating" behavior of this kind of astronomical objects.