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swampwiz
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If a magnetar is a neutron star, how do the neutrons composing the star generate a magnetic field? A neutron has zero charge, so it generates no magnetic field.
Neutron star cores contain a percentage of electrons and protons. I've seen estimates as high as ten percent.swampwiz said:If a magnetar is a neutron star, how do the neutrons composing the star generate a magnetic field? A neutron has zero charge, so it generates no magnetic field.
That's not true. Neutrons have an intrinsic magnetic moment, though I'm unsure if this contributes to a magnetar's magnetic field or not. See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_magnetic_momentswampwiz said:If a magnetar is a neutron star, how do the neutrons composing the star generate a magnetic field? A neutron has zero charge, so it generates no magnetic field.
Not true. A neutron has a magnetic moment - i.e. is a little magnet in and of itself.swampwiz said:A neutron has zero charge, so it generates no magnetic field.
A magnetar is a type of neutron star that has an extremely strong magnetic field. It is estimated that a magnetar's magnetic field can be a trillion times stronger than Earth's magnetic field.
Neutrons in magnetars are highly dense and packed closely together. This creates a phenomenon called "quantum spin," where the neutrons align their spin in the same direction, creating a strong magnetic field.
Scientists use a variety of tools and techniques to study the magnetic fields of magnetars, including X-ray telescopes, radio telescopes, and simulations. They also study the effects of the magnetic fields on the surrounding environment.
Understanding magnetar magnetic fields can help scientists better understand the extreme conditions in the universe, as well as the behavior of matter under extreme magnetic fields. This knowledge can also have practical applications in fields such as nuclear physics and astrophysics.
There are several theories about the origin of magnetar magnetic fields, including the "magnetar model" which suggests that the magnetic fields are a remnant of the star's formation. Other theories propose that the magnetic fields are generated by the rapid rotation of the star or by the decay of other particles within the star.