The Oblique Rotator Model for a Pulsar

This animation illustrates the oblique rotator model of a pulsar. Strong magnetic fields cause beamed radio emission from the magnetic poles. Because the magnetic poles are not aligned with the rotation axis, this beamed radio emission sweeps across the heavens. If an observer is in the path of the beam, a radio burst is received at very regular intervals.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• astronomy
• physics
• neutron
• star
• pulsar
• oblique
• rotator
• model

[mrg3]

Neutron stars are all too far away to directly snap a picture, however the observations are very strong in support. The observed power and polarization of the beamed microwaves, the rotation rate (and slowdown), the effects on nearby stars and interstellar media are observations in support of the model (i.e. evidence for the model being correct). Wikipedia has a pretty good description of the current state of knowledge about pulsars.

[TheAluminiumklorid]

good animation cool show of the magnetic fields

[FairCogent]

I wonder how they manage to determine the angle between the spin axis and the radiating axis... it seems that it would not be possible to measure the spin of the body based on simply counting the pulses.

Thanks for the animation.

[DavidAKZ]

Thanks for posting. I guess this is what is observed or is it a model ?