Satellite X-ray observations reveal neutron star with donut-shaped magnetic field and axial wobble
Friday, July 4, 2014 - 10:50
in Astronomy & Space
When a massive star dies, it can collapse under its own gravity with such force that it produces a supernova, leaving behind an extremely dense remnant consisting almost entirely of neutrons—a neutron star. Some neutron stars, known as magnetars, possess powerful magnetic fields, which are stronger than any other known magnetism in the Universe. These intense magnetic fields somehow produce high-energy x-ray pulses, but this process is not well understood.