Rotation-powered pulsar

A rotation-powered pulsar is a rapidly rotating neutron star, whose electromagnetic radiation is observed in regularly spaced intervals, or pulses. It differs from other types of pulsars in that the source of power for the production of radiation is the loss of rotational energy.

Related Topics:
Neutron star - Electromagnetic radiation - Pulsar - Rotational energy

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As the first type of pulsars to be discovered, rotation-powered pulsars were originally known simply as pulsars, a term coined by a Daily Telegraph journalist as a contraction of "pulsating star". Although it was soon learned that the pulses were related to rotation rather than to physical expansion and contraction, as in true pulsating variable stars, the term stuck. After the discovery of accretion-powered x-ray pulsars, rotation-powered pulsars were known as radio pulsars. Since there are now rotation-powered pulsars known that emit x-rays but not radio waves, the term "rotation-powered pulsar" is preferred.

Related Topics:
Daily Telegraph - Pulsating variable stars - Accretion - X-ray pulsar - X-ray - Radio waves

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