How can neutron stars have magnetospheres?

[Cindy Hops]

Neutron stars are neutral by definition. How can they have magnetospheres which are polar by definition?

 

[phyzguy]

An iron magnet is charge neutral, and yet it has a magnetic field. While neutron stars are mainly neutrons, they contain charged particles as well. See this Wikipedia link for an overview of the best guess of a neutron star structure. It is believed that the magnetic field in a neutron star is "frozen in" from the magnetic field that was present in the star before it collapsed.

 

[Cindy Hops]

An iron magnet is charge neutral, and yet it has a magnetic field. While neutron stars are mainly neutrons, they contain charged particles as well. See this Wikipedia link for an overview of the best guess of a neutron star structure. It is believed that the magnetic field in a neutron star is "frozen in" from the magnetic field that was present in the star before it collapsed.

Fascinating! Thanks so much!

 

[Khashishi]

By the way, neutrons may be electrically neutral but they still have magnetic moments.

 

[Cindy Hops]

I'm fascinated. Is there a link that could explain this?

 

[Khashishi]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_magnetic_moment

 

[Chronos]

A brief explanation for the magnetic fields of neutron stars is offered here; http://www.astronomycafe.net/qadir/q250.html, If neutrons have no magnetic polarity, why do neutron stars have such strong magnetic fields?