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Chapter 21: Problem 25

What is the connection between pulsating X-ray sources and millisecond pulsars?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Pulsating X-ray sources and millisecond pulsars are both related to neutron star binary systems. They represent different stages in the 'recycle' process of a pulsar: it starts as a pulsating X-ray source during the high accretion phase and evolves into a millisecond pulsar when the accretion slows down but the pulsar maintains the high spin rate. Both stages are characterized by the emission of X-rays, the difference is in the intensity and frequency of the emissions.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Pulsating X-ray Sources

Pulsating X-ray sources are objects in space that emit fluctuating amounts of X-rays. These are often associated with binary star systems, where a neutron star or a black hole (formed after the supernova event) accretes matter from a companion star. As the matter from the companion star falls onto the neutron star or black hole, it forms an accretion disk and heats up, emitting X-rays. The X-ray output can be seen to pulsate because the flow of matter is not constant, but rather, tends to fall onto the star in lumps or blobs.
02

Understanding Millisecond Pulsars

Millisecond pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars, with spin periods of just a few milliseconds. They are believed to be old pulsars that have been 'spun up' or 'recycled' through the accretion of matter from a companion star in a binary system. That is, as the matter from the companion star falls onto the neutron star via the accretion disk (as described for the Pulsating X-ray sources), it adds angular momentum to the neutron star, making it rotate faster.
03

Drawing the Connection

Pulsating X-ray sources and millisecond pulsars are linked through the process of 'recycling', in neutron star binary systems. A pulsar 'starts' as a pulsating X-ray source during the accretion phase, where it emits fluctuating X-rays as it collects matter from its companion. Then, as the companion star continues to lose mass and the accretion rate slows down, the X-rays emission gradually reduces but the pulsar continues to spin extremely fast due to the momentum gained during the accretion; thus, it 'becomes' a millisecond pulsar, known to emit radio waves, and occasionally, X-rays.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Accretion disks in close binary systems are too small to be seen directly with even the highest-resolution telescopes. How, then, can astronomers detect the presence of such accretion disks?

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Does a neutron star contain only neutrons? If not, what else does it contain?

Compare the internal structure of a white dwarf to that of a neutron star. What are the similarities? What are the differences?

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