Answer to Question #162984 in Astronomy | Astrophysics for Caren

Question

Radio telescopes are an essential tool for modern astrophysics. They played a crucial role in discovering a fascinating astronomical object: Pulsars - highly compact objects that periodically emit radiation. Pulsars are still an active part of astrophysical research. Explain how pulsars are formed and the causes for their pulsating behaviour.

Answer 1

Pulsars are formed when massive stars burn out all their fuel and collapse into a neutron star. However, the angular momentum remains the same. Neutron stars are smaller than what they were before, thus, the angular speed significantly increases. When the magnetic axis is not aligned with the axis of rotation, its periodical oscillation results in the emission of radiation in the direction of star's axis of rotation. From earth this seems like the star is pulsating.