Neutron star with four magnetic poles?...

[qzzq]

From NewScienstistSpace.com:<ul type="square"><b>Neutron star may sport four magnetic poles</b><br /><br />The neutron star inside the Crab Nebula may have four magnetic poles, rather than the usual two – unlike any other astronomical object known. The poles may have somehow been frozen into the neutron star when it was formed in a supernova explosion.<br /><br />A neutron star is the dense stellar corpse left behind after a relatively massive star dies in a supernova explosion. Some neutron stars, like the one in the Crab Nebula supernova remnant, are called pulsars because astronomers detect regular radio pulses coming from them. <br /><br />The pulses are thought to result from lighthouse-like beams of radio energy shooting from the neutron star's magnetic poles that sweep across the Earth as the star rotates.<br /><br />Usually the beam from only one pole is seen. But sometimes a second, weaker signal can be detected if the beam from the other pole points roughly in Earth's direction when it comes into view. The Crab pulsar has long been known to display weaker, secondary pulses.<br /><br />Now, observations of unprecedented detail have revealed that the primary and secondary pulses are radically different, casting doubt on the idea that they simply come from opposite magnetic poles. Instead, some astronomers speculate that the secondary pulses are related to an additional pair of magnetic poles.<br /><br />...<br /><br />The observations have revealed other surprises, as well. Because the primary pulse emission lasts just 0.4 nanoseconds, it may arise in an extremely small region just 12 centimetres across, where a cloud of plasma is trapped above the surface of the neutron star.<br /><br /><b>If this conclusion is correct, the grapefruit-sized patch would be the tiniest individual object ever observed in astronomy, Hankins says.</b> <br /><br />...(More at t</ul> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>***</p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Isn't one of the Gas Giants a quadrupole?<br />Or is this different somehow (well obviously the mechanism is different) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[qzzq]

<i>Or is this different somehow</i><br /><br />Sorry, I hardly know anything about quadrupoles. (Could have been a symphonic rock band from the Seventies though)<br /><br />I found the idea that you maye able to detect something as small as 12 centimeters across, caught on the surface of a neutron star over 6000 ly's away...well...mindboggling. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>***</p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

"I found the idea that you maye able to detect something as small as 12 centimeters across, caught on the surface of a neutron star over 6000 ly's away...well...mindboggling. "<br /><br />That is truely astounding....and shows how far we have come in the last few decades. <br /><br />(Yeah, quadrupoles would have been a great name <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> )<br /> <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[5stone10]

You're thinking of Quadrophenia from the Who ?

 

[qzzq]

5stone10,<br /><br />Yes, that's the one! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>***</p> </div>

 

[qzzq]

stevehw33,<br /><br />Thanks for that informative post. <br /><br />Just one question; the 12 centimeter across...how do they measure that? I assume the frequency of the radio pulse is caused by the neutron stars spin, not the phenomena on the surface itself, which 'broadcasts' uninterrupted. Does it go like this - they know the size and spin of the neutron star and since they can only get pulses of 0,4 nanoseconds long, that corresponds with the distance covered in 0.4 nanoseconds? Which in this case would be 12 centimeters? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>***</p> </div>

 

[acsindg]

Happy New Year Stevehw33<br /><br />Neutron stars are most interesting, I think, as they are in the final stages of run down. Magnoflux hyposthesis would I think agree with your comments that the star gradually leaks away its final energy in bursts as the positive and negative charges annihilate at the stars surface. At least that is what I think is happening.<br />Clive<br /><br /><br />