Why do neutron stars have magnetic fields

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the origin of magnetic fields in neutron stars, exploring the underlying mechanisms that could lead to such fields despite neutrons being uncharged particles. Participants examine the role of quarks and the alignment of magnetic moments within neutron stars.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how neutron stars can have magnetic fields if they are composed of uncharged neutrons, prompting a discussion on the nature of magnetic fields and charge movement.
  • Another participant explains that while neutrons are neutral overall, they possess a magnetic moment due to the electric charges of the quarks that compose them, suggesting this as a potential source of the magnetic fields.
  • A further inquiry is made regarding whether air currents could generate magnetism, given that air molecules contain atoms with quarks, leading to a discussion about the alignment of magnetic fields in different contexts.
  • One participant raises a question about the alignment of magnetic fields in neutron stars, speculating whether the fields are indeed aligned or if they arise from other features of neutron stars.
  • A reference to a related topic on the forum is provided for additional context on the subject.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion includes multiple competing views regarding the mechanisms behind the magnetic fields in neutron stars, and it remains unresolved whether the fields are aligned or if they originate from other characteristics of neutron stars.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the alignment of magnetic fields in neutron stars and the implications of quark behavior in generating magnetic moments. There are also assumptions regarding the behavior of magnetic fields in different materials that are not fully explored.

Rodney
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An article by W Tucker and K Tucker at NASA says that neutron stars have magnetic fields. If a magnetic field is created by moving charges, and neutron stars have not net charges to move, how are the fields created?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Actually the neutron itself has a magnetic moment, in spite of being an uncharged particle. The answer is that the quarks that make it up have electric charges. These charges cancel out over all to make the total charge zero, but the neutron still has these individual charges moving around inside it.
 
So, then wouldn't air currents for example, cause magnitism? Since the molecules are made up of atoms, which have quarks.
 
ArmoSkater87 said:
So, then wouldn't air currents for example, cause magnitism? Since the molecules are made up of atoms, which have quarks.
Since the feidls of the netrons in the molecules are not aligned, they end up canceling each other out. Which raises a question - why are those fields aligned in a neutron star? Or is it that they are not, but the magnetic field comes from some other feature of a neutron star?
 

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