Pulsars: The universe's gift to physics

Astronomy Magazine ^ | 2/20/2012 | NRAO

[U-238]

Pulsars, superdense neutron stars, are perhaps the most extraordinary physics laboratories in the universe. Research on these extreme and exotic objects already has produced two Nobel Prizes. Pulsar researchers now are poised to learn otherwise-unavailable details of nuclear physics to test general relativity in conditions of extremely strong gravity, and to directly detect gravitational waves with a “telescope” nearly the size of our galaxy.

Neutron stars are the remnants of massive stars that exploded as supernovae. They pack more than the mass of the Sun into a sphere no larger than a medium-sized city, making them the densest objects in the universe, except for black holes, for which the concept of density is theoretically irrelevant. Pulsars are neutron stars that emit beams of radio waves outward from the poles of their magnetic fields. When their rotation spins a beam across Earth, radio telescopes detect that as a “pulse” of radio waves.

By precisely measuring the timing of such pulses, astronomers can use pulsars for unique “experiments” at the frontiers of modern physics.

Pulsars are at the forefront of research on gravity. Albert Einstein published his general theory of relativity in 1916, and his description of the nature of gravity has, so far, withstood numerous experimental tests. However, there are competing theories.

“Many of these alternate theories do just as good a job as general relativity of predicting behavior within our solar system. One area where they differ, though, is in the extremely dense environment of a neutron star,” said Ingrid Stairs from the University of British Columbia in Canada

[mosesdapoet]

Thanks for the post

[U-238]

No Problem

:)

[onedoug]

We dedicate this book
To our fellow citizens
Who, for love of truth,
Take from their own wants
By taxes and gifts,
And now and then send forth
One of themselves
As dedicated servant,
To forward the search
Into the mysteries and marvelous simplicities
Of this strange and beautiful universe,
Our home.

—dedication of “Gravitation”, Misner, Thorne & Wheeler

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks U-238.


Thanks .

---

join or quit view topics view or post blog bookmark post new topic subscribe

---

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks U-238.

· join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe ·

Google news searches: exoplanet · exosolar · extrasolar ·

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks U-238. Two pings in one. In fact, three!

---

· String Theory Ping List ·

---

---

· Join · Bookmark · Topics · Google ·
· View or Post in 'blog · post a topic · subscribe ·

---

[dr_lew]

A nod to Apollo 11, do you think? ( Copyright 1970 )

[Bellflower]

Pulsars, superdense neutron stars, are perhaps the most extraordinary physics laboratories in the universe.

Praise The LORD, He certainly meant for us to be able to study His creation. He gives us what we need.

[dr_lew]

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

[Captain Beyond]

bflr

[AFPhys]

I had forgotten that so little time elapsed from discovery of neutron star/pulsar and the Nobel Prize for it in 1974. Seven years is pretty darned fast.

[U-238]

Antony Hewish became the first astronomer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in physics. That caused a little controversy there. A second Nobel Prize was awarded because of the confirming the existence of gravitational waves and Einstein's theory of relativity due to a pulsar

[Drew68]

Thanks for posting. I’ve always been intrigued with neutron stars, I think the most fascinating objects in the universe