Neutron Star and Magnetic Field (image)

International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research

Caption

An artist's impression of the neutron star in Swift J0243.6+6124. The neutron star has a very strong magnetic field which prevents the accretion disk from making it all the way in to the neutron star surface. Some of the gas in the disk is channeled along the magnetic field lines onto the neutron star's magnetic poles, giving rise to X-ray emission that we see as brief, regular pulses of X-rays as the star spins around once every 10 seconds.

Credit

Credit: ICRAR/University of Amsterdam.

Usage Restrictions

Please credit.

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.